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President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he aims to recognize Ayurveda as a medical science and is working towards establishing a National Council on Ayurveda to achieve this.
The President outlined that a five-year plan will be implemented to enhance Ayurveda and traditional indigenous medicine. Additionally, he noted that plans are underway to maximize the use of Ayurveda to promote tourism in the country.
President Wickremesinghe made these remarks while addressing the Indigenous Medical Conference held at the Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla today (06).
The conference was organized by practitioners of traditional, Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathic medicine, as well as indigenous medicine manufacturers, exporters, industrialists, shopkeepers, and other stakeholders in the indigenous medical field. The event was held to support President Wickremesinghe during the upcoming presidential election.
During the conference, a proposal for the advancement of the indigenous medical field was also presented to the President.
Addressing the conference, President Ranil Wickremesinghe noted that a patient he was entrusted to treat in 2022 is now standing up. He also pointed out that an unqualified doctor is prepared to make the recovered patient ill again, warning that if the patient takes this doctor's harmful medicine, and they will never be able to recover.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe further elaborated;
In 2022, a patient was entrusted to me for treatment. Initially, we had to assess their condition, and then we managed to address the issue with a special remedy and a bitter decoction. Two years later, the patient has recovered and is now up and about.
However, now an unqualified doctor is attempting to make the recovered patient ill again with ineffective medicine. If the patient takes this harmful medicine, recovery will be impossible. Therefore, it is crucial for the patient to decide whether to accept this medicine, and we hope to continue the healing process without resorting to it.
Addressing such diseases in the country is challenging. We had to bring in doctors from 18 countries, including Washington and Tokyo, to treat the patient. After achieving recovery with what was considered miraculous medicine, someone has come forward claiming knowledge of the situation. Given the alarming nature of the new prescription being proposed, the country must make a decisive decision today.
Thank you for inviting me to this conference. I appreciate the various requests and proposals presented here, and we are currently discussing how to implement them. It is crucial that we protect and advance our indigenous medical system. I recall that during late J.R. Jayewardene’s administration, the first committee report on indigenous medicine was created under W.J. Fernando, but no such report has been produced since then.
Our indigenous medical system includes both traditional practitioners and graduates from the Ayurveda faculty. Historically, indigenous medicine was highly effective and valued, having been a prominent health system in our country and across South Asia for over a thousand years. Currently, India is making significant advancements in researching indigenous medicine, whereas similar efforts are lacking in our country. Therefore, it is essential to continue researching and studying the history of our indigenous medical system, including bringing together traditional healers and providing them with recognition. Astrology, which is intertwined with these practices, should also be integrated into this framework.
In light of this, we need to develop a new framework and propose new legislation to recognize and register all these sectors. The Department of Ayurveda alone is insufficient for these tasks, so we are working to establish a National Council on Ayurveda. Our goal is to create long-term and five-year plans to advance this sector. We must rethink the reorganization of our indigenous medical system and commence these initiatives, leveraging our available resources and uniting all divisions.
My goal is to officially recognize Ayurveda as a medical science and leverage it to attract tourists to our country, much like it works in India. Understanding the scientific basis of our indigenous medical system is crucial, and this requires research and modernization to support tourism.
In countries like Thailand, major hotels offer Ayurvedic treatments, and we should implement similar programs here. Integrating Ayurvedic medicine into the tourism sector could significantly boost foreign exchange earnings. Additionally, places like Chennai have successfully developed their astrology systems, and we should aim to enhance our field by integrating these traditions.
We seek guidance on how to establish the National Council of Ayurveda in a manner that fosters collaboration among all stakeholders.
State Minister for Indigenous Medicine, Sisira Jayakody;
The development of the indigenous medical sector can significantly boost the national economy. Under President Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership, various legal reforms have been implemented to transform the indigenous medical field into a thriving industry capable of generating export revenue.
Thanks to investments facilitated by the Board of Investment (BoI), which are expected to yield over USD 300 million in foreign exchange, and the export of high-quality locally produced medicines, we are strengthening the economy while maintaining the indigenous medical sector's VAT-free status. These opportunities are highly commendable. Additionally, President Wickremesinghe's efforts to address the challenges faced by both graduate and intern Ayurvedic doctors are also recognized and appreciated by all.
I would like to emphasize that due to the attention given to the advancement of the indigenous medical field and the continuation of the initiatives started under it, the indigenous medical community will support the re-election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the next five years.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister Bandula Gunawardena, MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Advisor to the President on Parliamentary Affairs Ashu Marasinghe, indigenous medicine manufacturers, industrialists, pharmacy shop owners, and representatives from traditional Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy were also present at the event.
