Deities and Religious Rituals of the Veddas in the Batticaloa Region as Remnants of Ancient Religious Forms: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study examines the persistence and transformation of religious beliefs and ritual practices among the Veddas of the Batticaloa region, Sri Lanka, with particular attention to their concepts of deities and worship practices. The research aims to explore how ancient religious elements, including ancestor worship, spirit beliefs, nature worship, and ritual traditions, continue to exist within the contemporary Vedda community. This qualitative study employs literature review, participant observation, and field-based analysis using a comparative approach. The findings reveal that Vedda religious practices preserve significant elements of ancient religious forms, particularly through the worship of ancestral spirits, nature-related deities, and clan-based rituals. However, these traditions have also experienced transformation due to interaction with surrounding Hindu and Buddhist communities. The study concludes that Vedda religious traditions represent a dynamic continuity of ancient belief systems that adapt while maintaining their distinctive cultural identity.