The phrase “Turns this way and that; eats all the coconut” (“වක්ක වකයි වක දෙවකයි වත්තේම පොල් ඔක්කොම කයි” Wakka wakai Waka Devakai waththema pol okkoma kai) is actually a Sinhala choice.
The answer is: The Coconut Scraper (Coconut Grater)
Why “Turns this way and that; eats all the coconut” (Wakka wakai Waka Devakai waththema pol okkoma kai)?
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When you scrape a coconut, the blade turns one way and then the other way (“වක්ක වකයි, වක දෙවකයි”).
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No matter which way it turns, all the coconut inside gets scraped out (“වත්තේම පොල් ඔක්කොම කයි”).
What is a Coconut Scraper?
A coconut scraper is a kitchen tool used to grate the white flesh inside a coconut. Once the hard shell is broken, the scraper shaves fine pieces from the kernel, which are then used for cooking, making coconut milk, oil, or sweets.
Types of Coconut Scrapers
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Traditional Manual Scraper (Bench Type)
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A small metal blade with serrated teeth fixed to a wooden or metal bench.
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The user sits on the bench, holds the half coconut, and scrapes it against the blade by hand.
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Very common in older Sri Lankan households.
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Rotary Hand-Crank Scraper
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Has a rotating serrated disk operated by a hand crank.
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The coconut half is pressed against the spinning blade to grate quickly.
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Easier than the bench type, but still manual.
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Electric Coconut Scraper
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Modern version powered by electricity.
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A rotating blade scrapes the coconut flesh rapidly when pressed against it.
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Saves time, especially in restaurants and large households.
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How It Works
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The coconut is broken into halves.
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Each half is held firmly against the blade (manual or electric).
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By scraping or rotating, the white kernel gets grated into fine shavings.
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The grated coconut is then used directly in curries, sambols (like pol sambol), or squeezed with water to extract coconut milk
Cultural Significance
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In Sri Lanka, the coconut scraper is as common as a knife or spoon in the kitchen.
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Coconut is part of almost every meal — for example:
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Pol sambol (coconut with chili, onion, lime).
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Coconut milk curries.
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Sweetmeats like kokis or aluwa.
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Because of this, the scraper is considered a must-have tool.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
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Fresh coconut taste.
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Essential for authentic Sri Lankan cooking.
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Simple and durable.
Cons:
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Manual scrapers need effort.
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Can be dangerous if fingers slip.
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Electric ones are expensive compared to manual scrapers.
The coconut scraper is an everyday kitchen tool, deeply tied to Sri Lankan cooking traditions — so much so that riddles and proverbs (like the one you shared) are made about it.
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