14 January 2023 12:00 am Views - 68
By Prasanna Pathmasiri
A group of the Vedda Community under its leader Uruvarigelage Wannila Aththo
has decided to contest the upcoming local election for the first time.
They will contest under the banner of National Democratic Front for Mahiyangana, Soranathota and Haliela Pradeshiya Sabhas and Badulla Municipal Council.
Electoral Organiser of National Democratic Front for Mahiyangana and leader of the group Indika Nuwan Kumara and other candidates yesterday made cash deposits with the Badulla District Elections Office.
He told the media that Wannila Aththo will be the leader of the National Democratic Front and the Vedda Community would contest the election for all local authorities in the Ampara District.
“Several candidates of the indigenous clan will contest the election. We voted for the main political parties at the successive elections since independence but they left us in the lurch. We must now fight for our rights. The decision to contest the election was taken by the Variga Sabha council of the community. More than 500,000 voters of our community in 65 villages will cast their vote to elect representatives of a political party of their own,” he said.