Senior Vedda leader denied polling access over traditional hand axe

• Says they requested the government not to deploy officers who were not conversant with the culture and the rights of the Vedda community for election duty in the Dambana area  
• they had permission to go abroad and even to courts with the hand axe on shoulder and that there should not be any obstacle to enter the polling booth

By Ranjith Karunaweera  
A senior leader of the Vedda community in Dambana, Gunbandiya Ettho and his family chose not to cast their votes after they were denied entry into the polling booth because he was carrying a traditional hand axe.  
When he called over at Dambana Junior School polling booth to cast his vote, the Senior Presiding Officer had refused him entry carrying his hand axe on his shoulder, which was customary to the Vedda community and a symbol of their culture.   
However, Vedda Leader Uruvarigelage Vannila Ettho who arrived with his axe on his shoulder was allowed to enter the polling booth and cast his vote.   
Others in the clan followed him and were permitted entry into the polling booth, carrying the hand axe as usual, and cast their vote.   
Commenting on the issue Gunabandiya Ettho told the media that they requested the government not to deploy officers who were not conversant with the culture and the rights of the Vedda community for election duty in Dambana area.   
 He pointed out that they had permission to go abroad and even to courts with the hand axe on shoulder and that there should not be any obstacle to enter the polling booth.