The Central Provincial Department of Ayurveda was established on 01.05.1988 as a result of devolution of power to the Provincial Councils under the provisions of 13th amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The Department commenced under the Ministry of Health, rural development, Muslim affairs, Muslim education and cultural affairs of Central Province. Its first Minister was Hon. H. A. Halim and Mr. Ananda Weerarathne was the Secretary to the Ministry.
Dr. Mrs. Samudra Rathnayeke was appointed as the first Commissioner of Ayurveda of Central Province with effect from 01stMay 1988 by the Hon. Governor of Central Province under the 32 (1) clause of the Provincial Council Act no. 42 of 1987. She completed a committed service of nearly 09 years till 07.04.1997.
With the establishment of the Department on 01.05.1988, two Ayurveda hospitals and four central Ayurveda dispensaries which were under the line ministry were handed over to the Provincial Department of Ayurveda Central Province. The hospitals are Ayurveda hospital, Pallekele comprising of 40 beds and Ayurveda hospital, Doluwa, comprising of 24 beds and the dispensaries are Ayurveda central dispensary, Gelioya, Ayurveda central dispensary, Yatawara, Ayurveda central dispensary, Udamadura and Ayurveda central dispensary, Uda-Aludeiya.
When comparing with different Departments of state service, the line Department of Ayurveda was also a minor institution by 1988 with regard to its structure and organization. It didn’t even have a regional offices in Kandy, Matale or Nuwara Eliya districts. In such a situation, the physical and human resources received by the Provincial Department from the Line Department were very few at its establishment. Because of these issues, establishing the Central Provincial Department of Ayurveda was a difficult and challenging task. Main handicap was, even though there was a Commissioner at the Department office, there were no officers to carry out the middle level management.
However, by 1991, the Department could establish some sort of an organizational structure. Gradually, with the appointment of officers required by the Department, addition of supportive staffs including medical officers required to carry on the institutions and development of physical resources, the department could offer an efficient service to the people.
The pillar of strength for the Department is the Central Provincial Ayurveda Statute no.18 of 1990 which came to effect on 11th March 1991 published by the extraordinary gazette no. 674/5 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 05th August 1991 repealing the Ayurveda Act no.31 of 1961. Central Provincial Council is the first Provincial Council and only Provincial Council until 2012 to have legal power derived by a Provincial Ayurveda statute.
We are actively developing preventive care methodologies and techniques as Preventive Care directly influences the public well-being
We provide high quality curative care services to children, adults and seniors in Central Province who suffer from curable diseases
We produce most of the Ayurvedic drugs we use in our Hospitals and Central Dispensaries to ensure the quality and the potency of them
The Department of Ayurveda