Sky is the limit for kites of many stories
View(s):- A kite maker in Galle Face brings to Cinnamon Life a magical world of 2000 kites based on local wildlife species
By Kavya Kadurugamuwa
‘Meeting in the Sky’ was a love letter to Colombo.
Walking into the grand hall at Cinnamon Life last weekend and seeing the display of over 2,000 handcrafted kites, each reflecting a piece of the country’s diverse wildlife, showing 69 endemic species, was nothing short of magical.
The year-long project looked to make Colombo a destination with a backstory rather than merely a tourist point. It was both informative and significant since it featured elaborate, handcrafted designs that reinterpreted kites to symbolise local fauna.
A walk through the animal kingdom: A thrilling moment for a young visitor
“These kites are not just works of art; they tell a story—a story of harmony between humanity, culture and the natural world,” Radiesha Daluwatte, Director of Marketing, Cinnamon Life said.
Well known artist Kumkum Fernando, who has worked on projects for Coachella was one of the masterminds behind the project. “Growing up in Sri Lanka, kites were always a part of my childhood. My older brother used to make kites for me when I was young,” he told the Sunday Times.
Years later this childhood fascination transformed into an artistic passion. “About five years ago, I was walking down Galle Face and bumped into a man selling kites. His name was Kavishka (Gayashanta). I asked him how many kites he could make in a day, and he said about 100 to 200. That sparked something in me. I thought it would be really cool to do something bigger with that.”
Running in the family: Kavishka (second from right) and his family of kite makers. Pix by Dilushi Wijesinghe
So when Kumkum received a call from Radiesha, he immediately remembered Kavishka. “I thought, let’s make 2,000 kites, reimagined as animals living here with us. Most of the kites in Sri Lanka are named after animals anyway, like the wawula, malu and monara. But there are so many animals in our country—there should be a kite for all of them.” And a kite for all of them was indeed what they did.
Kumkum Fernando
Kavishka, 22, never imagined that this chance encounter would lead to such a big project. For more than six months, Kavishka with his family members meticulously handcrafted all 2,000 kites, of 72 different varieties of frames, entirely by hand. Kavishka is proud to be the first to create kites of this scale and diversity and is hopeful to take on more innovative projects in the future.
Kite-making runs in Kavishka’s veins—it’s a generational craft passed down in his family. His great-grandfather was the creator of the ‘wawula kite’, and this legacy of craftsmanship continues to inspire Kavishka, for whom kite-making is not just an art form but a way of life.
A celebration of the spirit of Colombo, each handcrafted kite, also demonstrated the beauty of teamwork, culture and innovation- a true meeting in the sky.
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