Model añglua or padda boat used in Sri Lanka to ferry passengers across inland waters. The hull consists of two dugout canoes with lashed gunwales secured by three transverse beams. These beams support a platform consisting of two wooden planks supporting an almost enclosed roofed structure made from leaves and wood.
These vessels would have been propelled by pole or paddle and would have varied in length. Añgula boats are generally recorded without roof structures but with the double dugout canoe and transverse platform used to ferry goods and passengers. Padda boats tend to have roofs and some are said to be constructed from double canoes, others are said to use sewn planking. Padda’s have raking ends and can be sailed as well as towed, rowed or poled and used to ferry passengers and can be used to throw large nets in shore fishing. The model shows features of both of these types of vessels. This model seems to have been acquired from the Colonial and Indian Exhibition which was held in South Kensington in 1886.
