NARRATIVES OF DUMBARA WEAVERS Run Time: 37 Minutes

The art and craft of Sri Lankan handlooms is a heritage that holds value that is both aesthetic and commercial. The work of the Dumbara weavers has travelled far and wide to establish a prized name. But how far can this age-old industry, nestled in the idyllic, misty Dumbara Valley reach across geography and generations? As beauteous as their creations are to behold, do the weavers see their own narrative of genealogy and future as equally beautiful? Designs in Search of Voice travels to the midst of the weaver community whose future may be getting misted and unclear in a fast changing world.

Athula Samarakoon is a film scholar and filmmaker. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Pune, India, and the University of Mississippi, USA. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Before joining the university, he served at Sri Lanka’s National Television. Athula is also an author, critic, and translator, and an active contributor to contemporary cinematic discourse in Sri Lanka. He has served as a jury member at numerous film and television festivals across the country. 

Sulari De Silva is a Lecturer in the Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. For over twelve years, she has been engaged in research on handloom weaving villages and their communities. She obtained both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Peradeniya and is currently pursuing her PhD at Kyoto University, Japan.

Run Time: 37 Minutes

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