Sri Lankan Flora & Agricultural Heritage
Presented in a Rare Dimension
Presented in a Rare Dimension
A Nembiliya is a ridged bowl made of clay or Aluminiuam and is used for straining tiny stone flakes and dirt in rice and other grains prior to cooking. A Nambiliya is often accompanied by a Koraha in the cleaning task. It is also used as a lid to cover the rice pot when rice is being cooked. In order to obtain a fine paste of a plant substance such as turmeric or sandal, a piece of the substance is rubbed against the inner ridges of the Nembiliya. By rubbing against the ridges of Nembiliya, some yams can be peeled off and the skin of some dry fish can be removed.
The Nembiliya was useful for the ancient people in the feeding ceremony (Ran Kiri Katagama) of an infant to rub a piece of jewel against the ridges of the Nembiliya with mother’s milk to feed the child at an auspicious time