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Legislative measures will be taken to address the issues faced by the Vedda community in Sri Lanka within the next three months – Prime Minister

Published

2 years ago

2025/01/23

Priyan

A discussion organized by the Ministry of Environment on the progress of the Parliamentary bill prepared to ensure the rights of indigenous community and to resolve existing legal issues regarding their fundamental rights was held at the Parliament Complex with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday [22].

Uruwarige Vanniyalaththo, the leader of 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 about the Indigenous Rights Act prepared in accordance with 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.

Speaking at the event, 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 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 on addressing the issues.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the indigenous community plays a vital role and that the rights enjoyed by everyone else should also be enjoyed by the indigenous community. The Premier, who paid attention to the existing legal and technical issues to minimize the problems faced by them as an indigenous community, requested the officials to take the necessary legal action to assure the rights of the indigenous people within the next three months.

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, and a group of officials representing the Ministry of Environment and the Centre for Policy Alternatives and members of the indigenous community participated the discussion.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister

Published

27 mins ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”

The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

11 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.

News

Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast

Published

13 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.

Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.

“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.

The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.

Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.

Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels