Adivasi leaders lobby Human Rights Commission for constitutional, other rights

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has initiated inquiries into a complaint by the leaders of the indigenous or Vedda community seeking constitutional recognition and other rights, a statement from it said.

Ten leaders of the Vedda community, including Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, went to the Commission recently and lodged a complaint.

The absence of constitutional recognition for the community, non- implementation of policies ensuring their socio-economic, cultural and civic rights, law enforcement without any sensitivity to the traditional rights of the Adivasi community, and criminalization of their traditional livelihood activities under the current laws are key concerns mentioned in the complaint.

They have cited ten state bodies - the Environment Ministry, the Department of Forest Conservation, the Police Department, the Mahaweli Development Authority, the Irrigation Department, the Land Ministry, the Cultural Affairs Department, the Department of Archaeology, the Department of Fisheries and the Coastal Conservation Department- as respondents.

The Commission will have a meeting on January 27 to look into this complaint.