14/06/2026
๐๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐)
A Woman Who Carried Sri Lanka to the World Through Art
In the southern city of Matara, nestled among lush greenery and vibrant colors, stands a remarkable creative sanctuary that has welcomed visitors from around the world for more than six decades. At its heart is a woman whose passion, resilience, and artistic brilliance transformed a simple textile craft into an internationally celebrated art form. That woman is Jezima Mohamed, affectionately known across Sri Lanka and beyond as the โBatik Queen of Sri Lanka.โ
Her story is not merely the story of an artist. It is the story of a visionary who dedicated her life to preserving a traditional craft, empowering women, promoting Sri Lankan culture, and proving that world-class artistry can emerge from the heart of a small coastal town.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ
Born in 1940, Jezima Mohamed discovered her artistic talent at an early age. Drawing and design came naturally to her, and even as a young girl she demonstrated a deep appreciation for beauty and creativity.
Her life took a defining turn in the early 1960s when she encountered the art of batik. Fascinated by the intricate patterns, vivid colors, and endless creative possibilities of wax-resist dyeing, she immersed herself in learning the craft. Inspired by pioneering Sri Lankan batik artists and driven by her own artistic vision, she began experimenting and creating unique designs that reflected the culture, landscapes, and spirit of Sri Lanka.
At just twenty-two years old, she founded what would later become one of Sri Lankaโs most respected batik institutionsโJez-Look Batik.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐
What began as a modest home-based workshop on Yehiya Road in Matara soon evolved into a thriving creative enterprise. Over the years, Jezima trained and mentored generations of artisans, many of whom have remained with her for decades.
Her philosophy has always been simple yet profound: every piece of batik should be handcrafted, every design should tell a story, and every artisan should be respected as a creator.
Unlike mass-produced textiles, Jezimaโs batik creations are entirely hand-drawn and hand-dyed. Each piece is unique, carrying the unmistakable signature of the artistโs imagination and craftsmanship.
Today, Jez-Look Batik stands not only as a workshop but also as a living museum of Sri Lankan batik artistry, attracting visitors, researchers, designers, and textile enthusiasts from across the globe.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง
Among the many milestones in her distinguished career, one achievement holds special significance.
Jezima Mohamedโs batik creations found admiration in the highest circles of the British Royal Family. Her handcrafted silk scarves were presented to Queen Elizabeth II during several Jubilee celebrations. The Queenโs appreciation for her work resulted in formal acknowledgements from Buckingham Palace, including treasured commemorative messages and a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a Jez-Look scarf.
For a batik artist working from a home studio in Matara, this recognition represented far more than personal success. It was international recognition of Sri Lankan craftsmanship and artistic excellence.
๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐
For more than sixty years, Jezima Mohamed has served as a cultural ambassador for Sri Lanka.
Her work has been exhibited internationally in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and numerous other destinations. She has held exhibitions abroad, collaborated with international fashion designers, and created bespoke textile pieces for luxury establishments and private collections.
Through every exhibition and every piece of artwork, she carried the name of Matara and Sri Lanka onto the global stage.
Visitors from around the world continue to travel to Sri Lanka specifically to experience her work, visit her workshop, and learn about the artistry that has made her a legendary figure in the textile world.
๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Beyond her artistic achievements, Jezima Mohamed has dedicated her life to empowering women.
From the earliest days of Jez-Look Batik, she recognized that creativity could become a pathway to economic independence. She trained women from her local community, providing them with valuable artistic skills and sustainable livelihoods.
Over the decades, dozens of women have built careers through her mentorship, while many others have benefited from workshops, training programs, and community initiatives she has conducted throughout Sri Lanka.
Her commitment to education continues today through batik awareness programs and skill development workshops designed to preserve traditional craftsmanship and inspire future generation.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
Like many great pioneers, Jezimaโs journey was not without challenges.
Floods destroyed one of her early handloom ventures. Periods of social unrest threatened her business and livelihood. Economic changes and the influx of mass-produced textiles created difficulties for traditional artisans across the country.
Yet she never abandoned her craft.
Instead, she rebuilt, reinvented, and continued creating. Her unwavering dedication to batik transformed every challenge into an opportunity for growth and innovation.
This resilience remains one of the defining qualities of her extraordinary career.
๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐
Batik may have originated beyond Sri Lankaโs shores, but artists like Jezima Mohamed gave it a uniquely Sri Lankan identity.
Her work incorporates local flora and fauna, traditional motifs, peacocks, cultural symbols, and scenes inspired by the islandโs natural beauty. Through her designs, she has helped preserve and celebrate Sri Lankaโs artistic heritage while continuously pushing the boundaries of contemporary textile art.
As the batik industry faces modern challenges, her work stands as a reminder of the importance of preserving traditional craftsmanship and supporting local artisans.
๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
In recent years, there has been renewed appreciation for Jezima Mohamedโs immense contribution to Sri Lankan art and culture.
Her works have been featured in prestigious exhibitions and cultural festivals, while collectors and institutions increasingly recognize their historical and artistic significance. Her celebrated โTree of Lifeโ creation, symbolizing family, community, and continuity, has become one of her most admired works.
Today, at over eighty years of age, she remains actively engaged in her craft, mentoring young artists and collaborating with designers who seek to bring Sri Lankan batik to new global audiences.
