© 2023 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Social Change

Earning cash - although Veddah were self sufficient life, is changing and they are entering the cash economy.  Both Sri Lankan and foreign tourists now visit them and this gives them the opportunity to earn some cash. Some Veddah men can be seen selling their handicrafts at Manyangana Temple. When tourists visit the Veddah settlements the Veddah show tourists around, demonstrate re-enactments of hunting skills and traditional dancing, traditional fire lighting etc.

Some years ago a Buddhist monk built a Temple nearby, and opened a school for Veddah boys (now girls attend as well). There is also a Government Primary School nearby which Veddah children are beginning to attend. Obviously these contacts are changing their culture as for example tracking and hunting skills are learnt over a long period of time spent with elders. Their traditional diet is changing to include rice, vegetables etc. (some of which they are beginning to grow themselves). They no  longer move from place to place after the game and to gather the wild food plants but now mainly live in settlements.

They are beginning to acquire mobile phones and although few have electricity in their homes, one enterprising Veddah has opened a small shop that besides selling necessities like bulat, tobacco, rice etc also provides charging facilities for mobile phones.

The near-by school that some Veddah children are now attend.

Especially Veddah boys are very keen to hitch lifts in visitors’ vans & will sing Veddah songs during the trip!

Veddah man selling small carved ornaments and bone rings etc. at Manyangama Temple

Selling homemade medicines and honey etc at his house

Veddah shop. Veddah boys enjoying playing a game which is popular all over  Sri Lanka.

Veddah honey gatherer with his bottle of honey that he is selling at the shop.

Purchasing Goonabandi a mobile telephone at his request. This enables him to keep in touch with a daughter who lives with a Buddhist nun in Colombo and also to use in case of emergency . As he has no electricity at his house, he charges it at  the Veddah shop.

Ploughing and cultivation like their Sinhalese neighbours.