Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says the Government is committed to protecting the rights, culture and traditional heritage of Sri Lanka’s indigenous Vedda community.
Speaking at the “World Indigenous Day 2026” celebrations held today (August 9) at the Dambana Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Museum premises under the theme “Honouring Indigenous Traditional Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” the Prime Minister said a long-awaited draft Indigenous Peoples’ Bill has been submitted to the Cabinet.
She said discussions with the indigenous community and relevant ministries, institutions and departments will be held before proceeding with the legislation, adding that the Government is working to begin discussions on the Bill this week through the necessary committees.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya said the Vedda community has lived in harmony with the environment for generations, following environmentally friendly traditions such as avoiding the killing of pregnant animals, not destroying entire bee colonies when collecting honey, and replanting portions of tubers after harvesting.
She noted that development projects and the declaration of national parks have, over the years, threatened the community’s traditional forest lands and way of life.
“The identity, traditional knowledge and heritage of the indigenous Vedda community are at risk of disappearing,” she said, stressing that development should not come at the expense of indigenous heritage.
The Prime Minister said the Government is committed to safeguarding the community’s traditional land rights and cultural independence while providing sustainable livelihoods, education and healthcare facilities, in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
She also said an Extraordinary Gazette notification had been signed under the leadership of the Minister in charge of the Environment, covering several issues affecting the daily lives of the Vedda community, including access to forests, registration of indigenous people and the issuance of legal identity cards.
According to the Prime Minister, these measures are expected to provide lasting solutions to many longstanding issues faced by the indigenous community and enable them to maintain their traditional way of life.
She also acknowledged that the recent Ditwah cyclone had severely affected the Vedda community. While the Government had implemented a special relief programme, she admitted that delays in the state mechanism had resulted in some communities receiving assistance late. She said steps are now being taken to expedite relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Indigenous Vedda Chief Wanaspathi Uruwarige Wannila Aththo said laws are necessary for a country to function, but they must be formulated with proper consideration for the country’s different communities, ethnic groups and cultures.
He said the Vedda community had discussed its longstanding problems with successive governments, but many issues remained unresolved.
Wannila Aththo urged the Government to take the community’s views into consideration when drafting laws concerning indigenous people.
The event was attended by Uva Province Governor Kapila Jayasekara, Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratne, Badulla District Parliamentarian Sudath Balagalla, District Secretary Sunil Galagama, government officials and a large number of members of the indigenous community.
