Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine opens as first university for Indigenous Medical Education

The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, started in 1929 by Ayurveda Chakravarti Pandith G.P. Wickramarachchi with 20 students, was on Monday re-opened as the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, the first university dedicated to indigenous medicine.

With a proud history of over 77 years, the former institute has educated many local and international students on indigenous medicine and aims to continue in its endeavour to meet the challenge of maintaining its unique position in the university system and preserving the methods of indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.

“We are delighted to launch this historic Institute into a fully-fledged university which has been an epicentre for indigenous medicine for over 77 years in Sri Lanka and look forward to taking Sri Lankan Indigenous Medicine to the world, especially at a time where Indigenous Medicine has gained popularity due to the current pandemic we face,” said its first Vice-Chancellor and the former Vice Chairperson of University Grants Commission (UGC), Senior Professor Janitha Liyanage, said in a media release.

The university will have full-time academic programmes and also introduce new part-time Postgraduate and Extension Programmes as an initiative to promote and educate the general public on indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka.  

The event was graced by the Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranathunga, State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness, Nalaka Godahewa, State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development and Community Health, Sisira Jayakody. Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Senior Prof. Kapila C.K. Perera and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman, Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunga. 

An official launch ceremony will be on March 4 under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.