SAKMANDALA is a futuristic Sinhala abugida typeface created by Samadara Ginige. It brings the circular shape of the Sinhala script to its near completion. All letters of the new Sinhala abugida have been designed based on the perfect circle. Furthermore, the Sakmandala font was designed to be easily identifiable by the users of the current Sinhala script. 

The Sinhala word “Saka” means a “circle”. It is derived from the Sanskrit word “Chakra”. The Pali (Magadhi) synonym is “Chakka”. Sakmandala letters are formed by the circumference and the eight radii emanating from the centre of the circle, which resembles the eight-spoked “wheel”. Therefore the word “Sak” meaning “circles” as well as “circular” is ideal for the name of the new typeface, Sakmandala.

Circular motion is everywhere. The Sun and the Moon seem to be moving in a circle across the sky. The Earth and the other planets around the Sun rotate in circular motion. Everything in nature is circular. We read a sentence from start to end and then the next sentence from start to end. Sakmandala letters are arranged in a circle. The Pali word “Sak” means “Self”. “Sak-kaya'' is the body of one’s self. And letters are used to express oneself. 

The word “Mandala” has many meanings. It also means “circle”. Circular things are called “Mandala”. For example the Sun and it’s planets (Solar System) are called as “Saura Graha Mandala”. The basic design and the arrangement of Sakmandala type is that of “Mandala”. From the closed vowel “a”, designed as a complete circle placed in the centre, all the rest of the letters are arranged in concentric circles around it. Therefore “Sakmandala” is the perfect name for this new typeface.

The BETA version of the font was released on 22nd December, 2021 and thousands of fans downloaded it and created art using it. The below video was made using the fanart which were made from the time I started posting about the font in September 2021 till 31st of December.