By Ranjith Karunaweera

Blood samples of the Veddha clan were collected yesterday at the Heritage Centre of the Indigenous People in Dambana to establish their origin through DNA tests. This research would be carried out by the Faculty of Science in the Colombo University. 50 families without close relationships among them would be subject to DNA tests. The object of the programme is to verify whether the Veddha community in Sri Lanka was related to the Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim communities or any indigenous clan of another country.

A team of officials from Gene Teck Institute obtained the blood samples. Commenting on the programme Veddha Chief Uruwarige Vannila Ettho said he consented to the programme under the condition that it should be for the well-being of his community and that he would go to court if it was used for any other purpose detrimental to his community.