Over Rs. 240 million for Ayurvedic treatment centres

by S.M. Wijayaratne Kurunegala Corr.

The North Western Provincial Council has allocated Rs. 240 million for the development of ayurvedic treatment centres and providing free medical treatments to the residents of Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts this year. At present, there are 15 Central Ayurvedic dispensaries in the NWP and they are managed by respective local bodies.

Local and foreign tourists who visit the ancient kingdoms of Kurunegala District namely Panduwasnuwara, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala are interested in seeking ayurvedic treatment for their ailments.

Consequently, NWP Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has directed the Commissioner of Local Government W.M.M.B. Weerasekara, to explore possibilities of opening of more ayurvedic treatment centres and to recruit 25 ayurvedic degree holders as ayurvedic doctors to provide free medical advice, counselling and treatments to those who come in search of such services.

W.M.M.B. Weerasekara told "Sunday Observer" that since 2010, a felicitation ceremony is held annually to pay tribute to the ayurvedic physicians and others engaged in this field.