Indigenous medical clinic for Veddha community

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The Veddha community will soon have its own Indigenous medical clinic. It will be constructed in Mahiyangana.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayaka, Ministry Secretary Bandula Dahanayake and Minister’s private secretary Manjula Dhanayaka recently visited Mahiyangana where they cut the first sod of soil to construct the clinic recently.

Uruwareeghe Wannieththo, the Chief of the Vedda community, said that he had been the chief of his clan for 14 years. His only motive was to protect his people from outside influences. Had he wanted, he could have constructed a modern house and lived. But he would never leave his people in the lurch.

He pointed out that his tribe had inherited their predecessors’ customs, rituals, indigenous medicine, obligations and folk tales. They had hereditary physicians who could cure any kind of diseases, but they did not have certificates. They had rendered more service than the present-day doctors. He said Veddhas had to spend several days in jungles searching for food.

Sometimes they were stung by poisonous snakes and most often they survived due to immediate application of indigenous medicine.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayaka said that the government was interested in preserving ancient customs, rituals, formalities and dialects of the Veddha community.

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