Vedda community permitted to enter forests

5 September 2024 06:24 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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By Nayanajeeewa Bandara

The Department of Wildlife has taken step to issue special identity cards to those from the Vedda community to enter the forests and use the resources to make a living without any obstacles.

During an inquiry held in response to a petition submitted to the Human Rights Commission by Ratugala Vedda leader Sudawannila Eththo, a senior official of the department said the indigenous people in Dambana and Ratugala will receive identity cards under stage one of the project.

He said only the individuals recommended by the leader of the community will be entitled to these special identity cards.

Comments - 6

Nalaka Thursday, 05 September 2024 07:34 PM

Enter the forests to do what..?

1 4

Arulmohli Varathana Thursday, 05 September 2024 08:23 PM

As if we have not destroyed enough flora and fauna. Everything is politics these days, destroy the country to get some votes

0 5

Mahinda Gunaratne (PhD) Thursday, 05 September 2024 09:10 PM

The SL government robbed the forests and the fundamental rights of the Vadda community and now issuing IDs for them to enter, Isn't it funny otherwise it is much similar to plantation Tamil communities away from plantations? Vadda community are called Forest Dewllers, who depend on forests for their livelihoods. Hence the critical problem here is that without forests, how the hell they are going to live? The Vadda community are the Adivasi people of Sri Lanka. They had been living here before Sinhalese and Tamil people moved here from Southern parts of India. And now, they have to get ID cards to live in forests, so how dare you call them Vadda without a jungle?

2 9

Hadam Friday, 06 September 2024 01:56 PM

No anymore..! If you see Youtube they have become tourist guides.

0 0

Nimal 1 Thursday, 05 September 2024 09:46 PM

This is one of the statutory rights of this community. Let tham live the life they have lived for generations.

3 11

Use Silva Friday, 06 September 2024 02:38 AM

Problem is that Vaddas community is currently not living the life that they lived for generations. Most of them live lives similar to other people. Therefore, their material demands are not different from others, the forests can’t afford it

1 4

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