President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (April 1) instructed the Environment Ministry to appoint a separate director to resolve the problems faced by the Vanniyela Aththo (indigenous community) and to ensure their welfare.

The President took these decisions at a meeting with the Vanniyela Aththo community at the President's House in Kandy. It is a tradition that indigenous community meeting the leader of the country prior to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.

President Rajapaksa also directed officials to convene a meeting to discuss their problems with the relevant ministries and agencies.