Govt. requests ayurvedic medical practitioners to find medicine to fight COVID-19
April 06, 2020Over 60 Sri Lanka's most leading indigenous medical practitioners met at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) to immediately explore the possibilities of finding an alternative traditional medicine to cure COVID-19 pandemic through age-old 'Hela Wedakama', practised for many centuries in the island-nation in keeping with 'Ayurveda' and 'Siddha' systems.
A presentation, submitted by Ayurvedic practitioners explained how indigenous medical practices could be applied in the treatment of this deadly epidemic and other associated preventive measures, inclusive of the conduct of precautionary, curative and post -treatment phases of the indigenous practices, etc.
Those leading practitioners were unanimous in finding a permanent medical solution to the deadly pandemic and pointed out how such practices could be applied with precision.
They visited the Centre on an invitation of the Health Ministry and Head of the NOCPCO.
The joint gesture, was mooted by the Ayurvedic Medical Council at the Health and Indigenous Medicine ministry, NOCPCO and General (Retd) Daya Ratnayake, former Commander of the Army and Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
It was co-chaired by Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Head of the NOCPCO and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander Lt.Gen. Shavendra Silva.
General Ratnayake explaning the objective getting the help of indigenous medical practitioners, said tracing historical and ancestral roots that testify to the herbal and indigenous expertise, the country has had possessed down the generations, and how it had effectively cured people using exotic herbal medicine mixtures, concoctions, etc and other healing practices were important at this critical juncture of the rapid spread of COVID-19.
Minister Wanniarachchi and the Army Chief Lt. Gen. Silva urged the indigenous medical practitioners to find an alternative indigenous medicine at the earliest, identical to how China has now discovered.
The Army Chief assured them if there were successful attempts to cure COVID-19 , the armed forces in consultation with the Health Ministry would do everything possible to facilitate its production process.
Ven. Dhamma Dammissara Thero, leading Ayurvedic practitioners, Commissioner of Ayurveda, Chatura Kumarathunga, State Secretary of Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Vijitha Senevirathna, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Health, H.W. M Pushpalathamenike, Deputy Director of Health Ministry, Dr T Weerarathna, Convener, National Committee for Provincial Ayurveda Commissioners, Medical Specialist, Dr Anil Jasinghe, Director General Health Services, Major General (Dr) Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Senior Officers were present during the discussion.
