A special discussion to provide solutions to the problems faced by the Adhivasi (Aboriginal) people in Sri Lanka for several years was held at the Parliament complex under the chairmanship of the Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reforms Minister President’s Counsel Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapakshe yesterday.
The discussion was held with the objective of providing solutions to the problems faced by the Adhivasi people (Aborigines) in implementing their traditional concepts and the Adhivasi leader Uruwarige Vannila Aththo explained the problems faced by his community.
The Adhivasi leader said that there is no constitutional recognition of the Adhivasi people, lack of clear legislation, obstacles to enjoying their traditional social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights.
Badulla, Moneragala, Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts are home to around 500,000 indigenous people, and they face a lot of problems in their daily life, although they have said that solutions will be provided at various times, but so far no proper solutions have been found, the Adhivasi leader said during the discussion.
A census should be conducted to determine the number of Adhivasi people living in the country, and a new law is requested to protect the heritage of the tribal people.
The Adhivasi leader said that the existing legal conditions are an obstacle for the activities of his people based on the forests and the fisheries activities around the lakes.
The tribal leader also said that since obstacles have arisen in the performance of duties by the officials and in the traditional activities of the tribal people, it is important to prepare a legal mechanism to rectify them.
Adhivasi leader Uruvarige Vannila Aththo also said that due to the existing obstacles for their people to protect their traditional ways, they are moving away from the Aboriginal people, and due to the loans given by the microfinance institutions, the Aboriginal people are under pressure because they are unable to pay them back.
The Justice Minister who commented at the discussion said:“The Adhivasi leader stated that the indigenous people of this country are facing many problems in following their traditional customs. It was also stated that a bill should be prepared for the indigenous people. Countries like Canada and Australia have laws for indigenous people. But our country does not need laws to protect aboriginal heritage. It is not appropriate to prepare such a bill. If a separate bill is prepared, they will be treated as a separate faction of the people of this country which is not appropriate.”
“Instead, what needs to be done is to prepare a system of regulations to protect the heritage of the indigenous people. A committee headed by the Wildlife and Forest Conservation Ministry Secretary, the Wildlife Department, the Attorney General’s Department, the Police, Wildlife Director General, Irrigation Department and the Mahaweli Development Authority are working to prepare the regulations and carry out the necessary preliminary work. The committee should give the related proposals within two weeks.”
“There is an agreement that states how the tribal people and the Wildlife Department should work. But according to the agreement, it appears that it is difficult for the indigenous people to carry out traditional activities. Wildlife officers and tribal people should work with strict understanding. By strictly protecting the forest laws, the necessary support should also be given to protect the rights of the indigenous people in traditional ways. Another discussion about this will be held on December 7. In that discussion, the regulations prepared for the indigenous people can be discussed.”
Minister Rajapakshe emphasised that the rights of the Adhivasi people will be secured through the preparation of new regulations.
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