Moves to promote indigenous medicine locally and abroad

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

There is a high demand for Sri Lankan indigenous medicine in countries such as Japan and England. Therefore, measures will be taken to promote indigenous medicine locally and internationally in a practical manner, Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake said.

He was addressing a press briefing held at Galle Face Hotel recently.

“We hope to strengthen our research institute to develop our traditional systems of medicine. We hope to identify components in the medicines which can provide good treatment. A number of targets could be achieved through that,” the minister said.

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) will dedicate the theme of the 2012 SLT Rainbow Pages to indigenous medicine to promote it.

The minister also relaunched the Indigenous Ministry’s website at the press briefing while Indigenous Medicine Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake launched an e-broacher in Sinhala on indigenous medicine. It will be launched in Tamil and English as well.

The SLT directory which is currently limited to the print form will be accessible in CDs, websites, call centres, mobile phones and electronic format. The directory contains a lot of details on ayurvedic doctors, indigenous medicine and medicinal plants.