Keeping the beat of the nation alive

EMENT musician Lionel Ranwala, a legend in Lankan folk music once commented that any Lankan who is not stirred by the reverberation of bera cannot be a true Lankan.

- Story and pix by Randima Attygalle

Such is the pride of place our traditional drums or bera occupies in the local culture; its deeply seated roots going back to time immemorial.

G.G. Nimal Wickramasiri, now in his early 60s, has lived all his life to the timbre of geta bera, yak bera, dawul, thammettam, and raban. Born into a family of traditional artisans in Alawala off Aththaanagalla, Nimal has traversed several eras of their traditional bera or drum-making industry. Today he is also a much sought after figure by many schools as a source of bera for hewisi or oriental bands.