President assures to protect indigenous lifestyle

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has intervened to protect the right of the indigenous community in the country following evidence that barriers are being placed on the lifestyles of those people.

The then President has ordered the authorities to allow indigenous people to extract honeycombs in forests conserved by the state without any hindrance to their style of living and to exercise laws governing forestry and environment.

This follows a meeting the President had with the indigenous people of Rathugala at the Presidents office on Friday, where their grievances were placed before the President.

The leader of the Rathugala indigenous community, Suda Vannila Eththo sought drinking water facilities, the re-organisation of cultivation land, the reconstruction of anicuts and also housing facilities from the President.

The President directed the relevant officials to provide all facilities to the indigenous community.