Sri Lanka celebrated the National Indigenous Peoples’ Day today (09) with a vibrant ceremony at the Dambana Indigenous Museum, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The event honored the island’s indigenous heritage with colorful rituals, cultural performances, and the launch of locally made indigenous products.
The tradition of marking the World Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka dates back to 1999, following the participation of the late indigenous leader Vishwakirthi Vanaspathi Uruwarige Vanniyalaththo at the Geneva Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 1996. This year’s celebrations were jointly organized by various government and private institutions, showcasing unique cultural elements such as the traditional Kiri Koraha ritual, performed for peace and prosperity.
The ceremony commenced with the President paying floral tributes to the statue of former indigenous leader Uruwarige Tisahami Atthana, followed by the symbolic planting of a white sandalwood tree in the museum courtyard. Sri Lanka’s current chief indigenous leader, Vishwa Keerthi Sri Vanaspathi Uruwarige Vanniyalathto, handed over a memorandum outlining the community’s pressing issues and presented a commemorative plaque to the President, who in turn presented a gift to the leader.
In parallel with the main event, stalls were set up to display and market indigenous products, and Sri Lanka’s first indigenous herbal soap, “Kairi,” made using traditional knowledge and local resources, was officially launched. Certificates were also awarded to indigenous women who completed training in Ayurvedic soap making.
The event was attended by Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, other ministers, senior government officials, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Eric Walsh, Canadian High Commission staff, and invited guests.
