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by Florence Wickramage

Environment and Natural Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie will officially visit Mahiyangana today declared as "Aadivaasi Day" to meet the Aadivaasi community in Dambana.

At a recent visit to the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry Aadivaasi Chieftain Uruwarige Vanniyala Aththo informed Fowzie about the many difficulties encountered by them in leading their traditional forest life and in the performance of their tribal rituals due to official interference.

Claiming that this community was the protectors of forests from ancient times, Vanniyala Aththo requested legal protection through Cabinet approval to continue to look after the forests and lead their normal lives peacefully.

The Aadivaasi Chieftain also informed the Minister that around 34 members of their community were facing legal charges for entering the forests and were unable to pay the fines imposed on them.

The Aadivaasi Community comprises 234 families. Some members of this community have taken to farming and chena cultivation as their livelihood while the ancient practice of hunting takes second place. Fowzie at Vanniyala Aththo's request will visit Maduru Oya area affected by the drought. The Minister's two-day itinerary also includes a tour of the drought affected areas of Giritale and Polonnaruwa.

Before proceeding to Dambana, Fowzie will visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and participate at a tree-planting ceremony.

The Minister will also hold discussions with government officials of the areas covered by his visit.

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