Ancient rock lens-craft

You heard right! Optical lenses made from rock - more specifically diyatarippu stones. This ancient craft is seeing a revival thanks to W G Buddhadasa, the latest descendent of the family of this name.

  

Above is the original tool - a ham poruwa. It takes two days to turn out a lens using this tool. Buddhadasa makes other stone artefacts as well.

   

Buddhadasa has invented a new tool which turns out lenses at a faster rate to cater to the increasing demand.

   

The finished product, above, made to prescription and ready to be inserted into a spectacle frame.

W G Buddhadasa and his family in Pilimatalawa.