After two centuries, the Sri Lankan government lifts the ban on the ancient martial art form. Legend has it that a master of Angampora could easily dominate any battlefield they set foot on
The thunderous beats of the drums ring out in a relentless rhythm, echoing through the angam maduwa (practice pit), nestled between towering coconut trees and sheltered beneath an aluminium roof. It's a blustery afternoon, and the Angampora STIMA group has gathered at the Athurugiriya district of Colombo's Western Province to sing paeans to a lost martial art form that had been prohibited by the British for over two centuries. There are practitioners of all ages, ranging from Guru Premasiri, 81, to Methula, a mere 12 years old.