Abstract:
This paper explores if the relocation of the indigenous people has made a significant
impact on their cultural practices and the way of life compared to their past history.
The societies are dynamic. This dynamism is influenced by many things such as
modernization, dominant cultures, environmental determinism, environmental
possibilism etc. However, these factors could be controlled or manipulated to protect
or strengthen their customs, beliefs to suit the changing dynamics if people have the
desire and a collective effort to do so. The past history of the indigenous people was
based on the secondary data collected from the documentary research and the
present socio-cultural condition of indigenous people in Henanigala – South was through in-depth interview data. Purposive sampling technique was employed to
gather the primary data from the respondents and for the secondary data sources as
well. Qualitative design was employed with the within method data triangulation
technique to interpret the results. The within-method methodological data
triangulation is an employment of more than one strategy of data collection under
one design. The discussion on this data triangulation showed how the changes in all
aspects of socio-cultural and economic life had taken place with the change of living
environment of present indigenous people in Henanigala-South. The results
revealed that the change of environment had influenced the socio-cultural and
economic aspects of the resettled indigenous group of people in Henanigala South.
