History and Precent of Department

With the establishment of Provincial Council Powers under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, a Provincial Ayurvedic Commissioner was appointed in 1987. Accordingly, at that time the activities of about ten (10) Central Dispensaries, Anuradhapura Ayurvedic Hospital and three (03) Rural Hospitals in the province could be activated under the supervision and guidance of the Provincial Ayurvedic Commissioner. Dr. W. Piyadasa, the then Medical Superintendent of the Anuradhapura Ayurveda Hospital, has been appointed as the first Provincial Commissioner of Ayurveda.

When the Provincial Department of Ayurveda was established in 1987, the Anuradhapura Ayurveda Hospital and three (03) rural hospitals and about ten (10) Central Dispensaries were used for indigenous medical treatment. Later they were gradually expanded into a Provincial Hospital, a Base Hospital, seven (07) Rural Hospitals, thirty (30) Central Dispensaries, six (6) Clinical Centers, a Provincial Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturing Institute and ten (10) Herbal Gardens. Accordingly, at present a staff of Four Hundred and sixty (460) is contributing to the Provincial Ayurvedic Service.