Abstract:
Beauty is defined as a combination of shape, color or form that pleases the aesthetic senses.
Beauty or good look is divided into two parts as internal beauty and external beauty. Healthy
body parts and decorating those by using various things belong to external beauty. Maintaining
good health is defined as internal beauty. This research is to find out how people kept beauty in
Kotte era. The research is mainly based on literary sources. So, using Paravi Sandesaya, Hansa
Sandesaya, Gira Sandesaya, Salalihini Sandesaya and Kokila Sandesaya as primary sources data
is collected. And also secondary sources such as scholars’ views and judgments are followed
where necessary. Finally, data is analyzed with the help of qualitative methods. Sinhala literature
was limited to Buddhist themes up to the Gampola Period. But this trend changed with the
Sandesa kavya. Kotte is the golden era of Sandesa history. Five Sandesa have been written in this
era. Having examined these books much beauty-cultural evidence can be found. Those can be
categorized as follows:
Clothes Jewelry Perfume Unguents
Benares Silk (Kasīsaḷu) Meuldama Lathudiya Kokkuma
Silk cloth (Patasaḷu) Jewelry used in foot
(Pādābharana)
Perfume made from Sandal Sandal
Fine cloth Wrist-band
Frill (Neriya) Pearl String
Flower decorations
People have worn various clothes as mentioned above to make their appearance good. But most
of those clothes have been worn by rich people. Women used to wear jewelry made by gold, gem,
and pearl, in their lap, anklet, jingling, hands, neck. And also they have used a different kind of
flower decoration, perfume and unguents in their body. Finally, in conclusion, it can be mentioned
that people of Kotte era have kept their beauty in a standard way and have used different kinds of
clothes, jewelry, perfume and unguents made by solid material such gem, pearl, diamond, gold,
and silver as well as natural material to maintain their beauty.
