500 Houses For Indigenous People On Their Specifications

By Gazala Anver

Around 500 houses are to be built for indigenous people, also known as the Vedda community, by the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, in coalition with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Minister Wimal Weerawansa confirms. The houses will be built according to the specifications of the aboriginal community, to protect their identity and culture, Weerawansa assures.

Chieftains of the indigenous villages have been asked to prepare a list of people in need of housing.
Currently, Rs. 8 million has been allocated for the project this year and the construction is due to begin in September.
Following a request by the indigenous people, houses will be constructed in Dambana, Henanthigala, Dalukana, Rathugala, Wakare and Pollabeddha, with special attention paid to people living in Wakare, who have been affected by both the Civil War and the Tsunami in 2004.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Housing Ministry will put forward a proposal for the next budget to ensure continued funding for this project.
Leader of the indigenous people, Uruwarige Wanniyala Aththo, said that housing is one of the main issues the Vedda community are faced with. According to him, because of forest destruction in the country, indigenous people are unable to find the necessary materials and raw materials in particular, are difficult to find as there are now protective laws on forests.
The housing scheme will be the first after the Galoya project, and the Accelerated Mahaweli project to help the Vedda community.
Minister of Cultural Affairs T.B. Ekanayake said that a committee has been appointed to look into affairs of the aboriginal community in Sri Lanka. Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Wimal Rubesinghe further explained that this committee takes collective action in implementing development programmes that provide benefits to the indigenous people. The construction of houses is part of the action taken to preserve the culture and identity of the aboriginal community.