National Research Council yet to receive proposal on ’Dhammika Paniya’

The National Research Council of Sri Lanka (NRC) has said that the Council is yet to receive the proposal on the syrup used for Covid-19 by Ayurvedic practitioner Dhammika Bandara from Kegalle.

"The Council is yet to receive the proposal by Mr. Dhammika Bandara and will take immediate action when the proposal is received, to facilitate the trial in advisory and monetary capacity," NRC Chairman Prof. Hemantha Dodampahala said in a letter yesterday to State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education Research and Innovation.

The letter also revealed that it had received two proposals. One was a pre-proposal on the treatment of Covid-19 patients using a food supplement by Dr. Neranga Abeysinghe, University of Colombo.

The other was an assessment of an Oral Polyherbal mixture to control Covid-19 infection by Dr. Saman Kankanamge, Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama and Dr. A.L Jagoda.

"These two proposals were presented by them on December 18 and despite both proposals requiring to obtain ethical clearance, the Council granted permission to continue with the R &D activities simultaneously and will keep you informed of the results at the earliest once we receive them," it added.

A large number of people recently gathered in Kegalle to have the Syrup known as Dhammika Paniya to cure Covid-19. Although authorities continuously stressed that this particular syrup would be tested, still not proper test has been conducted on the syrup.(Sunil Jayasiri)