THE HUMAN RIGHT TO EDUCATION OF THE VANNIYALA-ETTO COMMUNITY (THE FOREST-DWELLERS) IN SRI LANKA AS AN EMPWERMENT RIGHT

Abstract: Sri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean with a population of 19.5 million. UN (2005), <&semichttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1168427.stm>&semic, visited on 13th December 2005. History witnesseth of the Yakka &&semic Naga tribes ('Gothras') and the Nittevo The Nittevo are said to have been a dwarfish race of men who lived in the Mahalenama region now within the Yala East Intermediate Zone and the Tamankaduva area. These folk are believed to have been exterminated by the Veddas about 250 years ago, www.lankalibrary.com/cul.html, visited 10 December 2005. populations lived in Sri Lanka. At present, majority being the Sinhalese (low country and Kandyan), there is a minority population comprised with Tamils (Jaffna and up-country, Maleiyaha), Colombo Chetties, Burghers (Eurasians), Malay - 'Ja', Gypsies, Rodi, Ceylon Jews, Chinese, Portuguese descendents, and an African population. This shows of the diversed ethnic, religious, cultural groups and people with different social origin. 'Sri Lanka - People and Ethnic Groups', <&semicH:The Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka Bill_filesWWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan People, Ethnic Groups and Casts.htm>&semic, visited 25 January 2006. For lack of time and unforeseen reasons my research was a very brief one. Nevertheless, according to the present Vanniyala-etto Chieftain the government officials are reluctant to make an effort to solve their problems and are very discriminatory at times. Giving up their ancestral lands for development purposes, mixing up with other communities have made them loose their land, places of worship and their cultural identity. Sharing power with the local authorities has made the Vanniyala-etto Chieftain a marionette. Their desire is not to become showpieces to the world. Their silent effort is to preserve ''our'' heritage to the mankind. The literature, interviews with people who were directly involved with the Vanniyala-etto community helped for a better picture of the situation prevailed and existing. Outlined the back ground, it will be discussed of the international norms and standards on recognition of the indigenous people and the right to education, and their applicability to the Vanniyala-etto community. Sweden being a developed and Sri Lanka a developing country, an effort was made to reason the 'Sámi' population in Sweden, how their rights have been recognized to discuss the Sri Lankan situation concerning the Vanniyala-etto community.