By The Pulseline News Desk
Vedda Chieftain Uruwarige Wannila Aththo has called for access to the draft Indigenous Rights Bill, saying the indigenous community needs to examine whether its proposals have been incorporated into the long-awaited legislation.
Wannila Aththo has made the request to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who had informed him that the Bill had been drafted and that it now required Parliamentary approval.
The Vedda chief has told the media that representatives of the indigenous community had previously submitted their proposals and views to the Government during the drafting process, but had not yet been given an opportunity to examine the completed draft.
“I asked her to give us a copy of the draft because we need to see whether our proposals have been included in it. We also need to understand how the provisions in the Bill will affect our community,” he has said.
Long-awaited legislation
The Indigenous Rights Bill has been sought by Sri Lanka’s indigenous community for many years, with issues relating to land, forests, traditional livelihoods, cultural rights and access to resources remaining among its longstanding concerns.
Amarasuriya, speaking as the chief guest at the “World Indigenous Day 2026” celebrations held at the Dambana Indigenous Peoples Heritage Museum, had said the long-awaited Bill had now been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Prime Minister’s remarks signal a further step towards introducing a dedicated legal framework addressing the rights and concerns of Sri Lanka’s indigenous community.
However, Wannila Aththo’s request highlights the community’s concern that legislation intended to safeguard its rights should reflect proposals made by indigenous representatives themselves.
Forest access and legal identity
Amarasuriya has also said a special Gazette notification had been signed under the leadership of Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi covering several matters concerning the Vedda community.
The measures include provisions relating to access to forests, the registration of indigenous Vedda people and the issuance of legal identity cards.
These issues have particular significance for the Vedda community, whose traditional way of life has long been closely connected to forest areas and natural resources.
The proposed measures are expected to address some of the administrative and legal difficulties faced by members of the community, particularly in relation to recognition of their indigenous identity and access to areas traditionally associated with their livelihoods.
Community seeks greater role in drafting
While welcoming progress towards legislation on indigenous rights, Wannila Aththo has stressed the importance of ensuring that the community itself is able to review the proposed law before it is presented to Parliament.
The request for a copy of the draft therefore places the focus not only on the passage of the Bill but also on the extent to which indigenous representatives have been involved in shaping the legislation.
With the draft now before the Cabinet, the next stage could prove significant for the Vedda community, particularly if the proposed legislation is expected to establish a formal framework for protecting its rights and addressing longstanding concerns over forests, identity and traditional practices.
For the indigenous community, the priority now appears to be ensuring that the legislation ultimately presented to Parliament reflects the commitments and proposals made during consultations with the Government.
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