Ves Dance [ edit ] According to the legend the origin of the dance lies in a dance ritual known as the Kohomba kankariya (named for the deity Kohomba), which is also known as Kohomba yak kankariya or kankariya . Traditional dance masters believe that originally the king of a place referred to as "Malaya Rata", and his two brothers performed the first Kohomba kankariya . Some believe that this "Malaya Rata" was located in India. According to legend, King Malaya came to the island as a result of a trick of the god Śakra in order to cure the king, Panduwasdev , who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from a recurring dream in which a leopard was directing its tongue towards the king, believed to be as black magic of Kuveni , the first wife of King Vijaya . After the performance of the Kohomba kankariya the illness vanished, and many natives adopted the dance. It was o...