Adavasi

The Adavasi or Veddehs are indigenous communities in Sri Lanka. We interviewed members of this community about their concerns over land rights and land use. Most have given up their traditional livelihoods because the government has restricted use of the nature preserve they traditionally used for gathering honey, ayurvedic medicine, and hunting. Just over a week ago someone from their community was arrested for gathering honey. The kids we met went to school occasionally. But it's far, and on this day the family didn't send them because they didn't have food.