A Socio-Anthropological Study on the Relationship between the Lifestyle and the Modern Communication Equipment of the Sri Lankan Coastal Veddas in the Eastern Region

Abstract

The Veddas are the most medieval community group in Sri Lanka and also they are one of the oldest folk groups among the world aborigines. Many scholars have pointed out that whatever their ethnicities these groups have a historical lifestyle. The trappers/Veddas are basically categorized into three groups namely Trappers, Coastal Trappers, and Village Trappers. C.G Seligman the researcher who made the first significant analytical research related to Veddas of Sri Lanka reveals that the Costal Veddas mostly reported in the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka. The literature survey related to the study is enriched with the extensive contributions provided by scholars like PB Meegaskumbura, EM Rathnapala, Nandadeva Wijesekara and R.L. Spittle. Presently focused ethnic group appears in the areas of Pellanchenai, Panichchankerni, Kudaladi, Parchenai, Nargantonai, Echalanputta Ihalatottam and Thopoor. This study mainly focuses particularly on the Vaddas who live in the eastern region. Accordingly, the study has drawn special attention to identify and study the differences between the Coastal Trappers and Village Trappers. The research is aimed to find the socio-cultural and eco-political patterns and the new behavioral trends of the said community. Five villages belonging to the Batticaloa district were taken as the focus area of study. The participatory observations, case studies and key informants are used to collect primitive data and the help of some literature used to fine-tune the argument. In the past, the livelihood of Coastal Trappers was based on industrial fisheries. However, at present, they have been transformed to an agrarian culture, just like the general society. The reasons for this adaptation are lack of land, destruction of the jungle, repercussions of the past ethnic crisis and mainly owing to communication technology. In the early days, Coastal Vaddas used much uncomplicated methods of communication and now they have completely shifted to modern communication equipment which has made a considerable change in their lifestyle. This key emphasis of the study attempts to reveal the relationship between the absolute changed lifestyle and the communication tool, that they have been widely influenced over this transformation.