News
British Ayurveda Medical Council established in the UK
By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
The untiring efforts of three Sri Lankan medical professionals saw the establishment of the British Ayurveda Medical Council in the United Kingdom recently.
Thanks to the initiative of Shantha Godagama, Mauroof Athique and Palitha Serasinghe, the project has now become a reality.
The Council has a ten-member expert advisory board chaired by Dr. Godagama, two professors, research scientists and three highly qualified Western medical specialists with a keen interest in Ayurveda.
Dr. Godagama said the British government set up three committees over the past 30 years, including a Parliamentary Select Committee on regulation of Ayurveda and the Prince of Wales Foundation of Integrated Health headed by Prince Charles himself, to draft a report to ascertain whether Ayurveda medicine can be included in the National Health Service.
The final government report submitted by Professor David Walker, Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the UK, highlighted the importance of a self-regulatory body to win public confidence and to provide safe and high quality service in the UK”, he said.
‘We are now one step closer to seeing Ayurveda in the National Health Service in the near future. There has been tremendous interest for Ayurveda treatment from the British public and more Western doctors are joining the College of Ayurveda as they are of the view that it is the way forward for the safe practice of medicine in treating diseases”, he further said.
He said that both the Sri Lankan and Indian High Commissions extended their support. He expressed his gratitude to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London, Saroja Sirisena and the Trade Commissioner, Dr. Lakmini Mendis for their assistance.
Dr. Godagama is the founder president of the Ayurvedic Medical Association in the UK. He was the first-ever adviser on Ayurveda for the British government and worked for 15 years with the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority and was involved in licensing herbal medicinal products under new licensing law.
He has also worked closely with Prince Charles, who believes that Ayurveda can be a therapeutic modality available under the National Health Service soon.
Dr. Godagama has been awarded ‘Glory of India’ and ‘Bharat Gaurav Award’ as well as ‘Ayurveda Rattan’ from the House of Lords.
Dr. Athique, a graduate from the Colombo Ayurveda College, obtained postgraduate qualifications from Harvard University in the USA. Earlier, he worked as the Director of Nursing at University of Northampton.
Dr. Serasinghe has a postgraduate qualification from King’s College London and worked as a senior lecturer at Faculty of Ayurveda in Colombo.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
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