President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he aims to ensure that Ayurveda is recognised 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 Water’s Edge Hotel, Battaramulla on Friday (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 his goal is to officially recognize Ayurveda as a medical science and leverage it to attract tourists to the 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”, he added.

“We seek guidance on how to establish the National Council of Ayurveda in a manner that fosters collaboration among all stakeholders”, President Wickremesinghe noted.