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Adivasi community struggle to preserve 37,000 -year-old heritage-by Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka Source:Dailymirror Sri Lanka’s indigenous Adivasi community—the Vedda people—have historically maintained a diet of  kurakkan roti and game meat. They are also known to have various indigenous cures and treatments for their health purposes. In the past, each Adivasi person carried a pouch of indigenous health remedies—or Athbeheth—with them, along with a separate pouch for chewing betel. They lived close to nature and had a strong bond with the local flora and fauna. They hunted to appease their hunger, and never approved of excessive hunting. Even though they prepared Athbeheth from leaves, roots, and tree barks, they were never engaged in deforestation. “Those who entered the the Maduru Oya reserve for fishing were arrested. charged for trespassing and fined Rs 30,000.” Their unique lifestyle is said to have given them an extended lifespan. The Adivasi people claim their ancestors lived for ...