Today most of the Veddah I met consider themselves Buddhist although they hunt which is against Buddhist theology. A Monk settled in Dambane area some years ago and has gradually built up a Temple amongst the rocks. He also started a school for Veddah boys and later girls were also allowed to attend. Sinhalese regularly stop at this Temple to “feed the monks”. A film was made there around 2012 which was very popular. It is about 2 boys - one a Singhalese and one a Veddah who became friends. The Sinhalese boy was a monk and taught the Veddah boy it was wrong to kill animals . Then at the end of the film the Veddah boy also became a Buddhist monk
One of the Veddah men and a boy took us to visit the temple and meet the monk.
Views of the Temple built amongst and into the rocks
A Sinhalese party of pilgrims visiting the Temple to pray and“feed the monks”.
Temple cat taking a nap amongst the rocks!
Waiting to do pujah and then to “feed the monks”
Monks process to their dining area
Monks are seated
Head monk served first by pilgrims.
Then rest of monks served
The Temple “orphans” - boys who have been left at the Temple as their parents may be too poor to look after them - are fed. They also attend the Temple School. Many of these may welllater become monks.
