News
Traditional funeral rites for Rathugala indigenous leader
View(s):The final rites of Rathugala indigenous leader, Daniyagala Magabandalage Sudawannila Eththo (62), were held yesterday (9) at the Rathugala indigenous village.
He had provided leadership for nearly 21 years since 2005 to around 150 families in the Bibile Rathugala village.
He passed away on May 8 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Colombo.
Pic by Palitha Ariyawansa
A father of four, Sudawannila Eththo was involved in many projects that included: developing the Rathugala indigenous school; helping solve water problems; intervening to stop illegal timber smuggling and sand mining; securing electricity facilities; obtaining land for chena cultivation and establishing a museum in the village.
According to customs and traditions, the body of Sudawannila Eththo was placed in a handmade coffin using materials such as Bakmee and Hikpothu gathered from the forest.
Neem branches hung from the house. Usually, when an indigenous person dies, the body is buried in a cave or inside the forest. However, when an indigenous leader dies, the funeral rites are conducted within the indigenous village itself.
They believe that the deceased returns as a spirit to watch over and protect them. For this reason, they perform the ‘Kirikoraha’ ritual ceremony.
-Prasad Rukmal
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