Cane industry & furniture in Sri Lanka

Along the eastern coast roads of Sri Lanka, laid out to dry on either side of the scorching road are long stems of cane, symbols of an ancient industry striving to survive.

The skill of bending the pliable cane into eco-friendly furniture is an ancient art, passed down through generations. Due to the growth in plastic and fibre goods, it is now a fast disappearing industry.

Today only a handful of families engage in wewel, or cane production and retail. The types of cane used are kukul wewel – the thinner cane used for weaving and intricate crafts – and ma wewel – the thicker and stronger cane used to form the bases of items of furniture.

Using cane in furniture manufacturing took a leap of faith in 2019 and it’s in vogue once again, perhaps as a way to tap into old-fashioned escapism and elegance, and cane creations are seen in super-luxury to mid-luxury residences and resorts throughout Sri Lanka.

A great choice as it is environment-friendly because it uses the natural materials which are derived from the stem of the large rattans.