Veddha Chief meets Mahanayake of Malwatta Chapter

By Shane Seneviratne   

Veddha Chief Uruvarigelage Vannila Ettho said his community that depended on forest resources to make a living were facing several issues that have been going on unchecked for generations.   
During a meeting with Mahanayake of Malwatta Chapter Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero after his visit to Sri Dalada Maligawa to perform the traditional custom of offering bee’s honey to the Sacred Tooth Relic, he said his clan was facing restrictions on entry into the jungles. He pointed out his continual representations to the relevant authorities in this regard had fallen on deaf ears.   
Offering of bee’s honey collected from Dambana jungles to the Sacred Tooth Relic on the first day of Randoli Perahera in the Kandy Esala festival has been performed for generations by the Veddha community.   
A group of about 50 indigenous people headed by Uruvarigelage Vannila Ettho visited Sri Dalada Maligawa and performed the ritual.   
Replying to a query from the media he said he was hopeful that whoever comes into power at the presidential election would fulfil his duty for the wellbeing of the country.   
Mahiyangana Divisional Secretary Sanjaya Prasad Siriwardene and several senior officials of the Divisional Secretariat were present at the occasion.