Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine breaks new ground

UGC Former Vice Chairperson Senior Professor Janitha Liyanage assumed duties as the 1st Vice-Chancellor of the University

• First university dedicated to indigenous medical education in Sri Lanka opens

Started in 1929 by Ayurveda Chakravarti Pandith G.P. Wickramarachchi with 20 students, Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute is popular as a centre for teaching Siddayurveda tradition of medicine in Sri Lanka. 

Formerly affiliated with the University of Kelaniya, the institute was opened yesterday as the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine with the mission of becoming a global centre of excellence in indigenous medicine.

With a proud history of over 77 years, the 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,” the 1st Vice-Chancellor of the University and the former Vice Chairperson of University Grants Commission (UGC), Senior Professor Janitha Liyanage shared. 

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

The event was graced by Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranathunga, 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, Ministry of Education Secretary Senior Professor K. Kapila C.K. Perera and University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunga were among the attendees. 

The inauguration ceremony took place yesterday (1 March) at the premises of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine in Yakkala and the official launch ceremony will be on 4 March under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Opening of the ceremonial plaque