Origin of masks in Sri Lanka
The masks varied according to the country, culture and environment. The social and environmental background differed according to the geographical and ethnic composition. The Sinhalese wear masks during devil dancing, Kolam dancing and sometimes in Sokari dancing.
Masks are also worn during certain episodes in Devol madu ceremonies in nadagam and street processions. As regards the Sinhala masks one cannot ignore its relationship with India. When the masks originated, is still a question to be answered, even though no one knows when it was invented the historians opine that masks were in use for many centuries. It is true that the masks gave concrete form and shape to the face in a convincing manner.
The Sinhala masks may have developed for a variety of reasons perhaps on the basis of Indian prototype. For example among the jungle tribes of South East India masks represent demons and the earth goddess. These, too, resemble somewhat superficially the masks of Africa and New Guinea. It may be of interest to note that elaborate demon masks are not known elsewhere in India.
Literary and archaeological sources show that the cult of yakshas, rakshas, nagas and garudas had been very popular in India until 3rd and 4th centuries AD. By a gradual process, Hinduism absorbed most of these spirits and godlings as manifestations of Siva and Kali. Those who could not be so absorbed were incorporated into another group of supernatural beings called gandharvas, kinnaras, apsarasas and ganas.
Eastern India where the Hindu influence is minimal is inhabited by tribal groups such as Gonds, Baigas, Murias, Pardham, Agaria and Bhuriyas. Among these tribal groups masks seems to be associated with their spirit cult. These were the yakkhas and yakshinis associated with the hills. Then there were the monstrous devouring demons called Rakshasas. Of a gentle and kindly nature were Nagas and Naginis, male and female semi-human serpent spirits of water.
Yet another class of spirits were the Pretas, the spirits of the dead and Vetalas who are evil spirits animating corpses. Such were the beliefs of the pre-Aryan tribe people from Afghanistan to South India. Sri Lanka is so close and perhaps even connected by land could not have failed to be influenced by such beliefs about spirits and demons of one kind or another.
The masks would have been used by the early Sinhalese in much the same and for very much the same purpose as in India. Strangely enough, the pre-Aryan aboriginals, the Vedda of Sri Lanka, do not seem to possess any masks of any description. They only believe in a host of ancestors spirits. But during any ritual or ceremony of invocation of prayer no masks are worn.
The development of Hinduism came to be arrested after the introduction of Buddhism (248 BC) in Sri Lanka. Very little room was left for earlier beliefs to be active. Since Buddhism did not interfere with existing beliefs and practices some of the pre-Buddhist beliefs and practices continued. It is a strange fact that the pre-Aryan tribal groups of ancient Sri Lanka.