News
Herbal packs to fight covid: Economic crisis stalls free distribution
The Ayurveda packs to fight against COVID-19 which were distributed last year mainly to those from low income backgrounds. Pic by Indika Handuwala
The Government’s much-publicised initiative to distribute free herbal packs to fight COVID-19 last year fizzled out when the Ayurveda Department ran out of medicinal herbs and could not replenish stocks owing to the dollar crisis.
The Treasury allocated Rs 250mn for the project, of which around Rs 141mn was spent. The balance was returned to the national coffers, said Ayurveda Commissioner M. D. J. Abeygunawardane. The project did not go beyond parts of the Gampaha, Kalutara and Colombo districts.
The Ayurveda packs contained three components–the “Suwa Dharani” immunity booster, the “Guduchchadi churnaya” that treats symptoms and ingredients for a porridge. The Ayurveda Department was given 60 days to complete distribution.
“But by the end of the year, there was a financial crisis and we found we could not import ingredients like perumkayam (asafoetida), kottamalli (coriander), heen araththa (Alpinia calcarata), even ginger,” said Dr Abeygunawardane. “There was even packing material shortage such as cardboard, paper and triple-laminated polythene. And the lockdown, COVID-19 and floods in the Gampaha district complicated the programme.”
The target recipients were low-income families such as Samurdhi beneficiaries and those earmarked for the Rs 5,000 COVID-19 allowance.
“By the end of the year, the Treasury was also in a financial crisis so we returned the money,” he said. “And we did not receive an allocation this year. However, we have shared the formulae with 50 licenced Ayurveda medicine producers and all three components are available for sale in the market, rather than being distributed free by the Government.”
Meanwhile, the Ayurveda sector continues to be crippled by a shortage of imported medicinal herbs including coriander and pathpadagam (Hedyotis corymbosa), raisins, even katuwelbatu (Solanum virgiananum) and iramusu (Indian sarsaparilla). Even bees’ honey is sourced from countries like Australia.
Sri Lanka does not grow the required ingredients in sufficient quantities but importers, as in other sectors, are unable to open letters of credit to buy new stocks. Several consignments are stuck in the port, added the Commissioner.
Where available, the prices are exorbitant, which means the retail price of hitherto affordable indigenous medicine is also skyrocketing amidst the spiraling cost of Western medicine.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!