Sri Lanka keen on tie-up to promote indigenous medicine

Thursday, 4 February 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne attends five-day Global Ayurveda Festival in Kerala

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Hindu: Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne has called for a tie-up between his country and the Government of Kerala in promoting indigenous systems of medicine.

Addressing the inaugural of the five-day Global Ayurveda Festival here on Sunday, Senaratne said it was important to strengthen and modernise the systems of medicine instead of relying only on modern medicine.

Pointing out Kerala’s strengths in promoting and sustaining Ayurveda, he called for collaboration in research, skill development, ensuring adequacy of raw materials and in expert inputs for mutual benefit. “I would like to work with the political leadership of Kerala for a long-standing partnership in this area,” he said.

Kerala Minister for Agriculture K.P. Monahan called for concerted efforts to change the mindset among the people and make them aware of the benefits of Ayurveda. “Kerala was the hub of Ayurveda, and there were times when even every blade of grass in the backyard was seen to have medicinal property. Unfortunately, plants with such properties had been replaced with decorative orchids. It was time to turn things around so that Ayurveda gets its due place.’

Former envoy to the United Nations Dilip Sinha, Festival Chairman P.V Madhavankutty Varier, Member of Parliament M.K. Raghavan, Mayor V.K.C. Mammad Koya and former Union Minister of State for Railways O . Rajagopal were among those who stressed the need for documenting the efficacy of Ayurveda and promoting it as an effective area of medical science. The festival, organised by various Ayurveda institutions, health centres and organisations, opened with a fervent call to propagate the efficacy of this system of medicine and even make it the first choice of medicine globally. Apart from those within the country, delegates have come from Sri Lanka, Russia and some South-East Asian countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the festival.