1916.9.224
Name and identification of character
A soldier/warrior, hevaya (or hevarala or heva kolam) (Sin.).
Context
This character appears with a group of soldiers in the first stage of the Kolam performance, in the dance of the warriors, heva kolam (Sin.). The soldiers enter the place of performance in order to uphold law and order. Their duty is to maintain discipline prior to the arrival of the royal party (vide Preface).
Material
Wood, vel-kaduru (Sin.) (Nux vomica).
Iconography
The mask has a narrow and elongated face. It displays the application of two different colours. The right half of the face is painted in light yellow and the left half is painted in green. Detailed features of a warrior are lacking. The upper lip is slit by a sword. The mouth is distorted and deflected. A significant characteristic of the mask is the lost eye. Sideburns are delicately drawn.
2000 06 03
Dr. M. H. Goonatilleka