Ayurveda acknowledged as advancing knowledge, practices in medical field

Wednesday, 17 December 2014 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Marisa Wikramanayake Sri Lanka’s focus on indigenous medicine is an important part of the Sri Lankan government’s long term vision according to the Secretary to the Minister for Higher Education Sunil Jayantha Navarathna.

“Sri Lanka has a long-term vision to become the wonder of Asia,” he said. “We want to build a health hub in addition to a knowledge hub and a tourism hub. It is high time for us to export our knowledge and thinking to the world.” Navarathna spoke at the inauguration of the Second International Conference on Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Traditional Medicine held yesterday at Waters Edge.

The conference was organised alongside the ICAUST 2014 and the AYU-EXPO by the Institute of Indigenous Medicine in collaboration with the University of Colombo and the University Grants Commission Sri Lanka. It will continue today and tomorrow at the Institute of Indigenous Medicine in Rajagiriya. It is intended to provide a platform for researchers, academics, physicians, medical practitioners, manufacturers, exporters and those from the corporate and agricultural sectors to meet and discuss projects and ideas.

The University of Colombo’s Vice Chancellor Dr. W.K. Hirimburegama was the Guest of Honour at the proceedings along with other distinguished guests and speakers including Gujarat Ayurved University India’s Prof. R.R. Dwivedi, Govt. Nizamia Tibbi College India’s Dr. Wasia Naveed and the University of Jaffna’s Dr. S. Bavani. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine’s Acting Director Dr. M.W.S.J. Kumari welcomed the audience of approximately 350 delegates, noting that there were 60 international researchers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UK, the United States, South Korea, Australia, Japan and Germany.

She stated that globally traditional knowledge systems were being studied and incorporated into medical practice. “A holistic approach has become a global demand,” she said. Dr. Hirimburegama in his address to the delegates stressed how important it was to continue to study traditional medicine. “Traditional knowledge has to be extracted, modified and developed and this conference is a good opportunity for that knowledge to be exchanged,” he said. Navarathna agreed: “These kind of conferences provide novel thoughts and concepts that can challenge and add to current medical practice and thinking.”

Pix by Lasantha Kumara