Divi Negumai - Hela Osuwai programme launch today

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Indigenous Medicine Ministry will commence the Divi Negumai - Hela Osuwai programme to mark the first anniversary of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term. The Divi Negumai - Hela Osuwai programme will be implemented along with the Divi Neguma National Programme, an Indigenous Medicine Ministry spokesman said.

"Indigenous medicinal plants will be cultivated throughout the country under this programme which will establish herbal parks centering temples," the spokesman said.

The Divi Negumai - Hela Osuwai programme will be implemented under the Pansalen Gamata programme implemented under the auspices of the Presidential Secretarial Office. The Agricultural Ministry is also supporting this programme.

Under the guidance of Adviser to the President Ven Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, the inaugural programme will be held to provide herbal plants to temples at the Matara, Kamburupitiya, Upali Wijewardena Commemoration Hall at 2.00 pm today. Chief Incumbent of Gombaddala Shailabimbaramaya Most Ven Gombaddala Nandarama Thera will chair the inaugural ceremony.

The inaugural programme will be held under the patronage of Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Indigenous Medicine Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Southern Provincial Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva.