Abstract:
Meemure, located in the Central Province, in Kandy District, 343 km from Colombo is one of the unique
villages in Sri Lanka that has about five hundred years of history and is remaining isolated from the main
society with its own specific culture. Village prehistory has built on mythical stories related to “King
Rawana” as well as folklores centered around a Vedda name “Beduruwa”; owner of the village during King
Wimaladharmasuriya I (1542-1604). Due to its isolation from the main society many of the early traditions
are still been preserved in this community. Therefore the main objective of this research is to study the
traditional agricultural practices that are unique to them which they inherited from their forefathers. This is
a descriptive study which used qualitative data collection methods. Questionnaire survey was conducted
using seventy informants representing one person from each family and in depth interviews were conducted
with five individuals. The study was conducted from April to November, 2013. Ninety percent of the Meemure
villagers were farmers. Results revealed that the majority of the agricultural practices in Meemure village
are unique to them. In paddy cultivation “Aluyanthraya adima”, traditional paddy storing system- “Vee
atuwa” and many religious practices as well as land apportion system-“Pendi weta” (fence) and the
methods used to construct the “Chena pala” in Chena cultivation cannot be seen in other cultures. However
there is a gradual decrease in the usage of these practices nowadays thus it is necessary to record and
protect these diminishing cultures.
