The Review of Chronological Interpretation on Vadda Community in Sri Lanka

The Vedda, an indigenous people of Sri Lanka documented in the ancient Mahavamsa, represent a direct line of descent from the island's original Neolithic community, the 'Balangoda Man,' dating from before 16,000 BC. Known as Vanniyaletto (forest dwellers), the Vedda believe their clan predates even the Buddha and descends from the 'Yakkha' clan. Archaeological, anthropological, and genetic evidence indicates that today's Vedda are a hybrid of the Balangodese and Sinhalese populations. This paper reviews the chronological interpretation of the Vedda community through archaeological, historical, and anthropological perspectives.