Uncover The Way Of The Indigenous Veddas In Sunny Sri Lanka

Calling themselves those of the forest, the indigenous inhabitants of Sri Lanka known

as the Veddas are an unspoiled relic of the islands past dating back to 16,000BC. Closely related to the Austro-Asiatic communities of South Asia which include the eastern Indian aboriginal tribe of Hos and Birhors, the Australian aborigines and the Kubu community in Indonesia, experts believe that the Veddas are the direct descendents of Sri Lankas stone-age inhabitants. Remaining largely unchanged throughout the centuries, the Veddas have maintained their hunter-gatherer lifestyle despite the threats posed from industrialization that have drastically changed the landscape around them.

The term Vedda originates from the Sanskrit word Vyadha which denoted a hunter who caught his prey with bow and arrow. With their characteristic dark brown complexion and wavy hair, the Veddas looked strikingly different from the rest of the islands population and were clad in loin cloths while the womenfolk wore a piece of material that extended down to the knees from the navel. Recent times however have seen the Veddas adopt more discreet attire with the males wearing sarongs and the women draping a make-shift diya-redda which is worn from below the shoulders and extends to the knees.

Maintaining their ancient lifestyle of living off the land complemented by primitive hunting methods, the Veddas are a nature loving community who live in modest mud huts in forest regions the way their ancestors lived centuries ago. The Vedda language is also a fascinating aspect of their culture as it is categorically different from the Indo-Aryan language of the Singhalese. Although many of its original terms have been lost due to assimilation with the countrys Sinhalese population, some uniquely Vedda expressions are still used today.

Although their history is well documented by famed writer R.L Spittle who authored Vanished Trails, The Last of the Veddhas 1950 while living with three generations of the indigenous tribe, the Veddas have had to face extinction due to the rampant linguistic, cultural and marital integration with the Singhalese. Tribal settlements of the Veddas occupying areas in the Eastern Provinces, Uva and Sabaragamuva were concentrated in regions such as Nilgala and Yakkure in the past but have dwindled in recent years. The only surviving major settlement of Veddas today is found in Dambana where 350 Vedda families dwell among the jungle surroundings of the area.

Travellers who wish to discover the communitys traditions and simplistic way of life have the unique opportunity of engaging with the Veddas to gain a better understanding of this diminishing and indigenous forest dwelling population in the island.

Travellers who wish to discover Sri Lanka culture and its many attractions must explore Truly Sri Lanka prior to planning a trip to the island. As a premier Sri Lanka travel information site, this useful online guide provides local know-how to ensure an unforgettable time in the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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