Ranil pledges to promote Hela Wedakama (indigenous medicine) globally

• Emphasises the need for research to determine the origin of local medical traditions and systems

By Yohan Perera

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday pledged to promote traditional Sri Lankan medicine across the world and bring in much-needed foreign currency to the country.

Speaking during a meeting with Sri Lankan traditional medical practitioners, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the first step towards promoting traditional medicine across the globe is to undertake research.

“It is essential to undertake research to determine the origin of local medical traditions and systems. Then we need to determine its scientific basis. We will be able to promote it globally if we are able to prove that there is a scientific basis for our traditional medical systems,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

“India has undertaken a programme to promote its traditional medicinal system. They have also undertaken research. We also should follow through,” he said.

“I am willing to initiate a dialogue with Sri Lanka Indigenous medical practitioners to see how we could fulfil their requests. I propose setting up a special medical council to take charge of the indigenous medical systems and to promote them,” he added.

“Indigenous medical systems and tourism should go hand in hand. Sri Lanka should learn from countries such as Thailand in developing spas in hotels. One cannot succeed in attracting tourists by just having a spa in one room within their hotels. It is essential to keep up with international trends when it comes to health tourism,” he also said.
The President said he had taken care of Sri Lanka just like ‘Weda Mahaththaya.” I have managed to revive Sri Lanka. Some politicians claim they have different treatments to develop the nation. It is not a time to try out other treatments. Sri Lanka would become a patient once again if other treatments are tried,” he said.