Holistic approach of Siddha Sector towards Healthy Nation in North and East part of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Siddha Medicine is one of the Indigenous Medical systems. Indigenous medical system included Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Traditional medicine. Siddha discipline of medicine followed by Tamil speaking people based on cultural and tradition. Ayurveda discipline of medicine followed by Sinhala speaking based on cultural and tradition. Unani discipline of medicine followed by Muslim people based on cultural and tradition. Siddha system of medicine is pioneer medical system in South India and practicing all over the world at present because of that science is too deeper than other medical system. Tamil people following and carrying generation to generation of heritage of Siddha system in South India and as well as in Sri Lanka. The ancient Lemuria continent is actual origin of Siddha medicine and that divided India and Sri Lanka by the Tsunami and most of the parts submerged into Indian Ocean. However Tamil people following their medical knowledge with natural sources of nature utilize as medicine and it's called Tamil medicine then this developed by the 18 Siddhars in various eras and documented in Palm ola leaf manuscripts and now formed Siddha medical system in world recognized natural medicine. In this manner Sri Lanka's history denoted that King Ravana also practiced and saint Pulathiyar in medical teacher to King Ravana and Saint Pulathiyar is one of the students of Saint Agasthiyar who is the Father of Siddha Medicine. Saint Agasthiyar have a campus in eastern part of the Sri Lanka and now it's called Agasthiyar Campus (Agasthiyarsthapanam) at Kangaivaeli, in Muththur, Trincomalee. This is good ruins of archeological recorded evidence of ancient siddha medical practices. Hence, Siddhars modify the Siddha medical knowledge to Kings and kings taught to Traditional medical practitioners then they taught to common public and spreading medical system throughout all people in basic level especially in Tamil language. Tamil medical ola leaf manuscripts also available in common public now and government of nations upgrade the Siddha medical studies to degree and post graduate studies and research activities to explore the world at present. In 1925, there was a demand by some members of the Legislative Council for the allocation of a sum of money for the training of Ayurvedic Physician. This was followed by passing of a resolution for the appointment of a committee to study the feasibility of this proposal. Based on the committee recommendation the Board of Indigenous Medicine was constituted to establish a college together with hospital to train the Indigenous physicians in Colombo. The first tertiary programme, a Diploma in Siddha Medicine along with Ayurveda and Unani was offered in 1929 at the College of Indigenous Medicine in Borella, Colombo. The Board of Indigenous Medicine awarded Diploma of Indigenous Medicine and Surgery (DIMS) until 1961. After the implementation of Ayurveda act no. 31 of 1961, the name of the College was changed to College of Ayurvedic Medicine and the Diploma awarded also changed into Diploma of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (DAMS). The College of Ayurvedic Medicine was upgraded to the status of Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) and affiliated to University of Colombo on 2nd April 1977. In 1983, three Indigenous Medical Systems were originated in the University of Colombo namely Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. Since then the University of Colombo offered three degree programmes of five years duration of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS) and Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS).