Sri Lanka’s indigenous people
History of the Vedda
Sri Lanka’s Vedda tribes are considered the longest inhabitants of the island; its indigenous people.
Written into existence by the Mahavamsa in the 5th Century CE, the Vedda people were said to have been the descendants of King Vijaya (the first Sinhala king of Sri Lanka).
They, though, would contest that story, claiming an even older, pre-Buddhist history.
Regardless of their early origins, the Vedda have sought to maintain the culture and way of life of their ancient ancestors.
Traditionally cave-dwellers, the Vedda would also follow a nomadic pattern, tracking animal migrations and building temporary homes near to watering holes in the dry seasons.
Increasingly, the Vedda people are being absorbed into mainstream Sri Lanka, adopting SInhala and Tamil language and customs. To counter that trend, some Vedda actively work to preserve the traditions of the past and educate visitors on how they’ve lived for centuries.
Meet the Vedda
The areas surrounding Gal Oya are amongst the last few places where you can still meet the Vedda.
Some local lodges can arrange walks with senior members of the tribe.
You’ll be given an insight into their use of medicinal plants, the location of their ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings, as well as how hunter-gatherers sustained themselves in the ancient jungles of Gal Oya.
This article describes the experience in full.
