Sri Lanka’s centuries-old practice of Kithul Madeema, the traditional method of tapping sap from the kithul palm, has been added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Known locally as Kithul Madeema or Kithul Kapeema, the practice is deeply rooted in rural Sri Lankan communities. It involves collecting sap from the Caryota urens tree, commonly known as the kithul palm, found in forests and home gardens.
The process requires significant skill and care. Tappers climb the tall palm using ladders, bind the flower stalk with vines, and make precise cuts using a sacred tapping knife.
The sap is collected daily and filtered, then boiled for several hours to produce kithul treacle—also referred to as kithul honey. The sap is also used to make jaggery, vinegar, and traditional alcoholic beverages, or consumed fresh.
UNESCO’s designation highlights the urgent need to safeguard this indigenous technology, which faces the risk of decline due to modernization, deforestation, and reduced generational transmission of skills. (Newswire)