Indigenous communities around the world are often identified as marginalised groups. Those living in remote areas are digitally disconnected with little or no access to information and communication technologies (ICT). Perez-Escolar and Canet (2023: 1064) identifies indigenous people as vulnerable communities who are one of the most likely groups to be excluded from the digital realm. A UN report identifies indigenous communities as affected by the digital divide and state that indigenous peoples “face unique challenges in digital inclusion, including the lack of digital content in their native languages.”
The United Nations permanent forum on indigenous issues declared that “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) should be used to support and encourage cultural diversity and to preserve and promote indigenous languages, distinct identities and traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples, nations and tribes” (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2023: 2). Further, in their 2030 agenda, international agencies such as the United Nations recognise the importance of global interconnectedness and spread of ICT to accelerate human progress, in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of ICT and Sri Lankan indigenous communities, SDG #8, and SDG#10 are particularly salient (Sustainable Development Goals, 2023). Burga and Pavel (2020) argue that ICT can enhance the overall quality of life for people living in isolated communities and have presented compelling evidence in the context of remote Northern Ontario Indigenous communities (with reference to SDG#4 and 11). Therefore, it is important to explore whether use of ICT in a Sri Lankan could facilitate and accelerate human progress amongst the Veddhas communities by improving their quality of life through economic, social and cultural development.