Helping community through indigenous knowledge:

Gamage’s healing touch cures many

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Women are courageous and adversity is a great teacher in their lives. Nanda Gamage has been successful in preserving traditional medicinal knowledge and building a commercial operation that caters to a growing customer base. She uses inherited knowledge for the benefit of the community at large. She is a shining example for rich dividends that determination could bring about in one’s life.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business. Excerpts of the interview.

Q: What business are you engaged in and how do you set about it?

A: I am a traditional practitioner. It is a blend of Ayurveda and traditional medicinal therapy. I hail from Agalawatte in Kalutara district. I am the youngest in a family of ten members. My mother T.M.D.C. de Alwis was a traditional practitioner and all the family members were interested in learning medicinal therapy from her. I lost two family members at a young age. But the remaining eight members were able to benefit from her valuable knowledge. We were all involved preparing medicine and this gave us the opportunity to master the art.

My father Saraneris Kalutarawithana was a farmer and we owned sufficient plantations of tea, rubber, coconut and paddy fields. My family grew in harmony with nature and even today we continue with this relationship.

As I gained medicinal knowledge from my mother’s side she encouraged me to continue this in a big way. My mother was a respected and recognized traditional practitioner in the village who cured a large number of patients suffering from various diseases for a long time. Some of the patients were discharged from hospitals because they were unable to cure them. I was fascinated by the way my mother treated these patients. With her guidance on these medicinal therapies from my tender age I was involved in treating patients. Later in my life, I started this as a commercial venture producing valuable products under the brand name Haritha Suwa products.

After marriage I came to Galahitiyawa North, Ganemulla where I continue to live upto now.

Initially I started as an instructor in a Government school. My husband Sirisena Gamage was an accountant. With his sudden demise I shouldered the responsibility of the family and embarked on traditional practice.

My mother supported me throughout and her help was a tower of strength for me. As time passed by I tested many medicinal products and the outcome was very encouraging. Now I have a variety of products for different ailments which are in high demand.

The products under the Haritha Suwaya brand include oil, Alepa, tooth powder, catarrh oil, keshika hair oil, wheeze powder and Haritha Suwaya powder for animal skin diseases. These products provide relief for burns, blackheads, wounds, cracked feet, contusion, caterpillar attacks, boils or skin diseases of infants, vesicular scabies, ringworm, rashes, oral diseases and headaches.

I did research and made a combination of medicines into one making a special oil for 24 types of ailments. For this I have obtained patent rights.

I am happy with the way I am progressing and it gives me immense pleasure when I see patients admiring my medicine after they were relieved of the illness.

Q: How do you balance family and business?

A: I have three children, two daughters and a son. I have four grand children. We are a united family. I still support them as I am financially independent. All the members extend their fullest support in my endeavours. I regularly take part in exhibitions to promote my products and their involvement is significant in these events. As I plan my day I have scheduled time to dedicate to treatment, making products and to be with the family members. It is easy to manage time when you work according to a plan.

Q: What were the challenges you faced?

A: The greatest set back was my husband’s sudden demise. However, I was courageous to educate and bring up my three children. They all are employed in the Government service and I am proud of them. I faced all the challenges on my way with determination and was successful at the end. The secret behind my success is the courage, determination and dedication as displayed throughout my life.

Q. What are your goals?

A. My goal is to see healthy people. Sri Lanka is blessed with an abundance of resources. What is needed is to set targets and achieve goals. We can get plenty of examples from the Buddhist background how to make life successful.

Q: Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A: It was not a disadvantage. It was a blessing as it involved medicine and treatment. Women are more caring than men and this was a plus point in my venture.

Q: What is your advice to women in business?

A: I advice them to use their brains and be intelligent. They should act wisely when facing challenges. It is important to avoid conflict as much as possible.

Q: What were your achievements in family and business?

A: With regard to my family, I have three children all are married and doing Government jobs. I adore my four grand children and their company gives me a soothing effect and a meaning to life. As I have no financial burden I live a happy and content life.

With regard to business I believe that I am engaged in a national service. I treat patients who suffer for a long time. I only charge a minimal fee and all I want to see is healthy people. The appreciation I receive is immeasurable and I consider it as a valuable gift.

Q: What is your contribution to society?

A: I was the first President of the Women’s Association (Kantha Bala Mandalaya) in the Gampaha Divisional Secretariat. I do a great deal of social service and help others to come up in life. I was instrumental in setting up of Navoda Women’s Bank to assist low income families. I was awarded the Sri Saddharma Jothi title for my 30 continuous years of service to the Dhamma School. As a Dhamma teacher I have moulded a large number of students into responsible citizens.

I need to improve this venture and for that I need land to grow medicinal, plants. I also would appreciate if I could get financial support to further expand business operations.

My products have a growing demand, but I lack finances to expand. If I receive support this could be developed in to a national operation and also could provide employment opportunities.

I am proud for what I have achieved so far.