Lanka keen on tie-up with Kerala to promote indigenous medicine

Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Rajith Senaratne has called for a tie-up between his country and the Government of Kerala in promoting indigenous systems of medicine, The Hindu newspaper reported.Addressing the inaugural of the five-day Global Ayurveda Festival, Senaratne said it was important to strengthen and modernise these systems of medicine instead of relying only on modern medicine.Pointing out Kerala’s strengths in promoting and sustaining Ayurveda, he called for collaboration in research, skill development, ensuring adequacy of raw materials and in expert inputs for mutual benefit. “I would like to work with the political leadership of Kerala for a long-standing partnership in this area,” he said.

Kerala Minister for Agriculture K.P. Monahan called for concerted efforts to change the mindset among the people and make them aware of the benefits of Ayurveda.

“Kerala was the hub of Ayurveda, and there were times when even every blade of grass in the backyard was seen to have medicinal property. Unfortunately, plants with such properties had bèen replaced with decorative orchids. It was time to turn things around so that Ayurveda got its due place.’

Former envoy to the United Nations Dilip Sinha; organising chairman of the festival P.V Madhavankutty Varier; Member of Parliament M.K. Raghavan; Mayor V.K.C. Mammad Koya; and former Union Minister of State for Railways O . Rajagopal; were among those who stressed the need for documenting the efficacy of Ayurveda and promoting it as an effective area of medical science. Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurated an exhibition of various Ayurvedic forms of treatment and medicines.

The festival, organised by various Ayurveda institutions, health centres and organisations, opened with a fervent call to propagate the efficacy of this system of medicine and even make it the first choice of medicine globally. Apart from those within the country, delegates have come from Sri Lanka, Russia and some South-East Asian countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address the festival on February 2.

(Source : Colombo Gazette,  February 1, 2016 )

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