From medicinal bark to jars 

By Chamintha Thilakarathna

The cause of much controversy in recent times over its unique medicinal properties, kothala himbutu is found in abundance in wet zone forests and sometimes in drier zones like Ritigala, Mihintale and Sigiriya. Growing against trees, hidden by the undergrowth beside the tanks in the area, the kothala himbutu canes reach a height of about 50-60 feet. 

For generations, villagers have made use of these canes for medicinal purposes and Rajapakse although he little realises it, follows this ancient tradition. Having chopped down a few canes, he carries them to his garden where he peels off the bark and carves them transforming each piece into a work of art-jars and mugs for storing water. 

The craft is not new, but it is not easy, says this young craftsman who sells his mugs and jars to the big handicraft shops in Colombo. They fetch around Rs.650 in the city but should you happen to visit his village, you could buy them for about Rs.200.

The kothala himbutu plant was much sought after even in ancient times by kings and monks practising the science of ayurveda. Scientifically known as Salacia Reticulata Wight Celastracae, kothala himbutu's most medicinally valuable part is its root. The story goes that the plant got its name due to its fruit which resembles a pot (kothalaya). When the plant is kept or boiled in water, the water turns yellow. 

Kothala himbutu is primarily used as a cure for diabetes and urine problems. In the Dry Zone, villagers sometimes eat the fruit as it is believed to purify the blood. They also believe that regular consumption guarantees a healthy and balanced life. Not just the bark, but every part of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. However, consuming Kothala himbutu without proper medical guidance could lead to kidney problems.

"There is a good demand for the jars as many people have been cured of various ailments after drinking the water stored in the jar for a few days," says Rajapakse. He has been making vases and jars out of the kothala himbutu plant for some 12 years now and he says its popularity among both locals and tourists, increases day by day. Attracted by the brown, beige and reddish natural grain on the wood, many also purchase them as ornaments. 

The earliest commercial use of kothala himbutu started when villagers packaged parts of the plant and sold them on the pavements of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya years ago. Later, as they explored new ways of attracting customers, the already existing small industry of making kothala himbutu jars, then practised only by traditional craftsmen, developed to such an extent that, today, the barks are machine- cut by some.

Traditional craftsmen are concerned, however, at the increasing demand and the increasing number of youths learning the skill. 

They say that the modern equipment used to turn out the jars causes much wastage of the bark. The traditional craftsmen say that they make sure that not even a splinter of the bark is wasted but nowadays, the left over pieces are simply thrown away. 

The research officer of the Archaeological Department at the Cultural Triangle in Annuradhapura, Gamini Samaranayaka, points out that this is one profession that is restricted to the Triangle as the craftsmen are few and the raw material is found only in limited areas. Making use of kothala himbutu for various purposes is nothing new to the villagers, as it has been the practice over many generations, he adds. 

The fear, though, is that over-exploitation and wastage of this precious resource will lead to the extinction of the plant in the area.