The funeral of Kalavarige Sudubandiya, a Veddah chiefs, took place in the presence of a large crowd at the Sevanagala cemetery on Thursday.
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| Veddahs pay their last respects to the late Sudbandiya. |
A leading figure in the Veddah community, Sudubandiya worked tirelessly for the Veddah cause. He frequently met up with government officials to discuss pressing issues, such as resettlement out of areas where the Veddah community had lived for centuries.
In 1982, Sudubandiya and his three wives and 16 children left Kandegampola to come and live in Senanikulama.The Veddah chief was buried according to Veddah tradition.
His body was placed in a coffin made of wood from the “hik” tree, and leaves and branches adorned the top of the coffin.
After a series of funeral orations and Buddhist rites, the coffin was carried in a procession by Veddah males carrying bows and arrows.
The closing of the grave was conducted by Sudbandiya’s successor, Kalavarige Guru Bandiya, who received the late chief’s bow and arrow in a symbolic ceremony. |
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