The Media Impact on Sri Lanka's Indigenous People; Wannilaeto (“Vedda”) of Dambana

Abstract

This research examined the media impact on Vedda people in Dambana Village, Monaragala district, in the Uva province in Sri Lanka. The Vedda community is also known as Adivasi (Original inhabitants) or Wannilaeto, indigenous people in Sri Lanka. The Vedda people of Dambana are also in the process of modernization failing to maintain their identity. Some of them hide their identity by absorption into neighboring Sinhala or Tamil communities. Wannilaeto have a community radio station called Dambana Radio but it is not fully operational and the programs do not match their needs. The number of listeners is at a minimum level. The Dambana Vedda community has access to media. The younger generation has cellular phones and Tablet PCs. One hundred Vedda members have been interviewed onsite. Snowball sampling method implied. Snowball sampling method (the sample grows like a rolling snowball) is also known as network sampling. It is a non-probability sampling.  Some of the Vedda people preferred to use their mother tongue (Wanniyalaththo language) and was assisted by a translator from the Vedda community. The research found that media has become one of the main factors influencing the Vedda people of Dambana, especially the younger generation. They change their lifestyles willfully and quickly adopt to alien cultures, especially, neighboring Sinhalese culture.