Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has requested relevant officials to take the necessary legal action to ensure the rights of the Indigenous Community in Sri Lanka, within the next three months.

Paying attention to the existing legal and technical issues to minimize the problems faced by the Indigenous Community, PM Amarasuriya said that the Indigenous community plays a vital role and that the rights enjoyed by everyone else should also be enjoyed by them. 

The remarks were made during a discussion, held at the Parliament Complex yesterday, organized by the Ministry of Environment on the progress of the Parliamentary bill prepared to ensure the rights of the Indigenous community and to resolve existing legal issues regarding their fundamental rights.

Uruwarige Vanniyalaththo, the leader of the Vedda community who participated in this discussion explained the historical value of their community and drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the issues they are currently facing. 

He further mentioned the Indigenous Rights Act prepared per the United Nations Charter and pointed out that the issues faced by Indigenous people in their daily lives had not been properly addressed even though the previous Governments had taken several measures in that regard.

Also sharing his views, Minister of Cultural Affairs Sunil Senevi said that the Veddas are a historical asset of the country and it is essential to protect them and ensure their rights.

Minister of Environment Dhammika Patabendi also stated that the Ministry of Environment will take the necessary steps to enact the necessary laws and regulations to protect the rights of the indigenous people in Sri Lanka.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Wildlife explained the status quo and the future measures that will be followed to address the issues.

Minister of Environment Dhammika Patabendi, Minister of Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, Member of Parliament Sugath Balagalla, Director General of Wildlife Suriyabandara, a group of officials representing the Ministry of Environment and the Centre for Policy Alternatives and members of the indigenous community participated the discussion. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to prepare a draft bill introducing a new law concerning the rights of the indigenous community in Sri Lanka.

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted in May 2024 to the joint proposal by the then Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms and the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs concerning the introduction of the new law. 

At that meeting, it was decided to further analyze the concept paper presented to prepare the draft bill with the participation of all parties concerned. 

Accordingly, the relevant fundamental draft bill was further improved subsequent to several rounds of discussions with the participation of officers in the Ministries of Lands, Wildlife and Forest Conservation, Environment, and Finance, the Attorney General’s Department, the Department of the Legal Draftsman, and stakeholders interested in the relevant sector headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister. 

Based on the discussions, the Cabinet approved the joint proposal, instructing the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill based on the aforementioned fundamental draft. (Newswire)

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