• Will contest under the banner of National Democratic Front  

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.