Indigenous People’s Movement for Access to Commons and Cultural Preservation
The Indigenous people have endured severe injustices since colonial rule. Under British administration (1815–1948), their ancestral forests were seized for plantations, forcing them into poverty and dependency. The post-independence Sri Lankan government continued these policies, designating their territories as wildlife reserves or development zones, effectively criminalizing their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The Mahaweli Development Project (1970s–1980s), funded by international agencies, displaced thousands of Indigenous People, flooding their lands and relocating them to state settlements where they faced discrimination and loss of cultural identity. Despite constitutional recognition, they remain marginalized, with little or no control over their resources or participation in decisions affecting their future.
Ratugala village is located in the Madulla Divisional Secretariat of Monaragala District in Uva Province. In 1949, through the Inginiyagala project connected to the Gal Oya project, the Danigala area was acquired for that project, and the indigenous people who lived in the caves of that area became victims of this development and were removed from their ancestral lands.
With new settlements, they lost their traditional livelihood and became helpless. Due to laws imposed in relation to forests, even entering the forest became a punishable offense. Because of this, some indigenous people do wage labor to survive, while others live by guiding tourists at tourist hotels and showing their singing and dancing. Those who lived without depending on anyone now have to depend on others.
Therefore, it became necessary to protect their economic, social, and cultural heritage. For this reason, MONLAR intervened and started the Indigenous Development Collective with the participation of 104 families. Agroecology based livelihood initiatives has begun to create and preserve a way of living and now it has become a resistance movement demanding for access to land and self-determination.
Visitors will get to :
- Explore agroecology models
- Explore agroecology based livelihood initiatives
- Explore initiatives for Cultural preservation
- Explore movement building for access to Commons
Trip Details
- DATE : 12th of September 2025
- STARTING TIME : 6.30 AM
- DISTANCE FROM NICD: 140km
- TRAVELLING TIME: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Maximum number of participants is 60
- Breakfast will be provided at NICD or hotel
- Lunch will be provided on the site, local food and fruits will be provided by the indigenous community.
What to bring
- The weather in Rathugala is hot and humid, so wear comfortable clothes.
- September is the inter monsoon period, so rain showers may be in the evening, so prepare for it
Site Visit Experience
The Rathugala field visit was conducted with a total of 36 participants under the coordination of Mr. Ravindra. The visit was supported by 2 volunteers, 4 interpreters who facilitated communication, and 2 media personnel who took photos and videos of the activities.
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