With the number of COVID-19 patients around Mahiyanganaya and Rideemaliyadda rising to 173, the Dambana village, the home of the Veddah community (indigenous people) is also at risk, Veddah chief Uruwarige Wannila Aththo said.
The Veddah Chief was speaking at a media briefing in Dambana which he said had been convened to bring to the attention of the authorities the danger the virus poses to his indigenous community.
He said it was unfortunate that the threat posed by the COVID-19 virus to the Veddah community has not garnered the attention of authorities. e said that the corona virus, which was confined to Colombo, has now spread to other parts of the country and in a few days it could cause more destruction in other parts of the country than in Colombo.He urged authorities to take necessary action to protect the Veddah community from the virus spread.
