Veddha people of Sri Lanka

The Veddha people are the Sri Lanka’s aboriginal inhabitants. They are said to be the country’s stone age inhabitants, who still live in their old style by living off the hunt and gathering the fruit of the land, despite the ongoing process of industrialization and modernization. They are called Veddha by the Sinhalese people which derived from the Sanskrit word Vyadha means ‘hunter with bow and arrow’. According to the sources the population of these indigenous people are said to be at present about 350 families. At present they are still to be seen in some of the Districts of Sri Lanks, like Mahiyangana, villages like Dambana and so on. Looking at them carrying an axe in their shoulder one may ger scared but they are harmless people, and quite friendly.

Veddha Dance

Collecting money for the dance

These are some of the photos taken during a cultural festival at the University of Kelaniya to celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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