{"id":108133,"date":"2023-02-02T00:38:03","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T00:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=108133"},"modified":"2023-02-04T05:23:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T05:23:54","slug":"lesser-known-forest-dwellers-of-rathugala-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/lesser-known-forest-dwellers-of-rathugala-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesser-known Forest Dwellers of Rathugala – By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lesser-known Forest Dwellers of Rathugala<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

– By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"vedda\"<\/p>\n

\"ArundathieInhabiting in the distant village Rathugala, (situated in close proximity to *Gal Oya National Park, approximately 30 kilometers from *Ampara), amidst a diverse woodland, these forest dwellers known as \u201cRathugala *Veddas\u201d are lesser-known indigenous people of Sri Lanka. They live in the diminishing forests of Sri Lanka. Rathugala is a small hamlet of 110 families living adjacent to the forest. These indigenous people had originally lived in caves in *Danigala Rock area.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the early 1950s, some people of the indigenous community in Danigala Rock area were relocated due to the construction of the *Senanayake Samudhraya to irrigate the arid farmlands of the East and South East of Sri Lanka. Several years later, due to a ban on hunting imposed by the Government, the other inhabitants had also moved to Rathugala.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to scholars, the bloodline of Rathugala indigenous people traces to the era of *Kuweni. They hail from a generation known as \u201cMahabandala.\u201d These people had arrived in Rathugala in the 1930s. Since that period, they have been living in the area. For generations, the leadership of the clan has been carried from father to son.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier, they had been hunter-gatherers. Yet, at present, they do not live in caves nor their sole occupation is the indigenous lifestyle of hunting. Instead, they are mostly engaged in cultivation, growing crops such as corn, tubers or engaged in paddy cultivation. Yet, they are still connected with the forests and frequently venture into the forests to collect bees honey. The females of the clan go to the forest in search of edible fruits, leaves, medicine and to collect firewood for cooking. During the period of harvesting, all inhabitants of the hamlet engage in the process and the produce is equally distributed among all the families by the head of the clan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their dwellings are simple wattle and daub houses with roofs thatched with *iluk<\/em> grass.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They have a simple lifestyle, a simple symbiotic existence with the forest. Modern-day advanced technology is hitherto unknown to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the small garden of the majority of houses, there is a small shrine room with a Buddha Statue. Flowers are offered at the shrine room by the inhabitants. In certain shrine rooms, there are statues of deities, considered as those protecting the village.<\/span><\/p>\n

At present, youths of the hamlet have left to cities in search of job opportunities. Hence, in future, their culture, customs, way of life and habits may disappear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ratugala\"<\/p>\n

Scholars are of the view that Rathugala indigenous lineage is not related to well-known indigenous communities of Dambane, although, they maintain friendly relations with them. The two indigenous groups share similarities in language including the symbolic axe borne on the shoulder. Marriages between these two communities also occur frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n