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| Tuesday, 30 March 2004 |
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Pandit G. P. Wickramarachchi the founder of the Wickramarachchi Ayurvedic Institute, Yakkala was, no doubt, an eminent ayurvedic physician in Sri Lanka. He is respected by all not only as a physician but also as a well disciplined devout Buddhist who had a kind heart. He was born in 1889 and he devoted his whole life for learning and treating patients. He was a brilliant student of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, a well-known Buddhist institute at the time. He was fortunate to associate with and get instructions from Ven. Hikkaduwa Siri Sumangala Thera, the great scholar of Asian studies at the time. In 1917 he entered the Calcutta Astanga Ayurveda Vidyalaya to further his education. He obtained L.A.M.S. (Bhisagratna) degree from that institute and came back to Sri Lanka in 1921. While starting his career as a physician and a teacher he got married in 1924. It was a time of deterioration of Sinhalese culture and Ayurvedic System of Medicine. On this background, Gampaha Siddayurveda Vidyalaya was founded by him in 1929 in order to revive the lost heritage. He was able to maintain the institute at his own expenses for over thirty five years. In recognition of his great service to the country, the Vidyodaya University conferred on him the Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) of Ayurveda Chakravati in 1960. Further, as a token for his services to the land he was nominated a senator by the government in 1957. Although holding high position both in society and government, he never forgot his career in promoting Sinhalese Buddhist Culture and Ayurvedic system of medicine in Sri Lanka. He treated everyone alike and thousands of physicians scattered throughout the land today are witness of his great service and humane qualities. His 29th death anniversary was commemorated yesterday. May he attain Nibbana. A. A. D. Amarasekera, Director, Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute |
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