By Uwin Lugoda
The recent addition to Sri Lanka’s national university list, the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (GWUIM), is set to introduce seven new courses in 2021. This is being done in order to supplement President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vision of making it a global centre of excellence in indigenous medicine.
According to a statement made by GWUIM Senior Vice Chancellor Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage to the Media Centre for National Development, these degree courses are to be implemented for 2020 Advance Level (A/L) students. The courses are also being prepared by a panel of experts with the approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and will be included in the student manual issued by the UGC.
The Gampaha Wickramarachchi University was first established well over nine decades ago in 1929 by Ayurveda Chakravarti Pandith G.P. Wickramarachchi, as the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute. At the time it was a centre of learning the Siddhayurveda tradition of medicine with just 20 students.
Its mission was to produce youth with knowledge and skills in Ayurvedic medicine and related sciences, as well as developing the highest level of clinical and research skills to meet national and global needs.
In 1995, the institute officially became an affiliate of the University of Kelaniya in 1995, and as of 2021, it has hosted around 176 students taking part in its courses. Located in Yakkala, the university is one of two Ayurvedic higher educational institutions in Sri Lanka.
The institution received attention under the President’s “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” national framework, which announced plans to convert existing 18 national colleges of education as university faculties. As of last March, the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute was converted to the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, becoming the country’s 16th national university. 
Prof. Liyanage stated that the latest courses being added have been prepared with the aim of further popularising the field of indigenous medicine. Unlike in traditional universities, these new degree programmes are not confined to a traditional classroom, but are designed to allow students to experience the latest degree courses in a practical training environment.
The new degree programmes include a degree course in tourism health and hospitality management as well as a degree course in yoga and parasitology at health resorts. Prof. Liyanage explained that they will also provide a great opportunity for students to develop their skills and provide accommodation for students pursuing these courses.
Moreover, the courses include a bachelor’s degree in biomedical technology, a bachelor’s degree in health information and communication technology, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology in indigenous knowledge.
“The main purpose of all these courses is to provide students with the opportunity to pursue a bachelor of sociology degree in indigenous knowledge, especially in places where there is a great deal of social interaction as well as opportunities to engage in social activities such as dealing with social issues,” Prof. Liyanage said.
Moreover, these courses will also include degree courses in indigenous pharmaceutical technology and in indigenous pharmaceutical resources, covering another unique field. Other courses provided include those that focus on agriculture and specialise in the study of chemical fertilisers as well as pesticide-free agriculture opportunities, which include specific training on how to produce organic fertilisers, how to obtain them from the natural environment, and how to prepare the relevant raw materials.
Prof. Liyanage stated that the creation of such courses will also provide an opportunity for graduates to contribute to the country with concepts relating to topics such as organic fertiliser production, which is much-talked-about today, with the potential to improve in the future.
This new university is also making agreements with foreign institutions to direct students pursuing all these degree courses for training and employment at the end of the degree. The GWUIM Senior Vice Chancellor stated that they will be working with both the public and private sector stakeholders, adding that providing self-employment opportunities are also among the privileges enjoyed by students pursuing these courses.
All these new degree courses are four-year special degree courses and the number of students expected to be enrolled for each course has been increased by 50% from the number of students enrolled in 2019. Accordingly, the number of students expected to be enrolled for one course this year will be 50.
(This article is written in collaboration with the Media Centre for National Development)
Prof. Liyanage stated that the latest courses being added have been prepared with the aim of further popularising the field of indigenous medicine. Unlike in traditional universities, these new degree programmes are not confined to a traditional classroom, but are designed to allow students to experience the latest degree courses in a practical training environment.
The new degree programmes include a degree course in tourism health and hospitality management as well as a degree course in yoga and parasitology at health resorts. Prof. Liyanage explained that they will also provide a great opportunity for students to develop their skills and provide accommodation for students pursuing these courses.
Moreover, the courses include a bachelor’s degree in biomedical technology, a bachelor’s degree in health information and communication technology, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology in indigenous knowledge.
“The main purpose of all these courses is to provide students with the opportunity to pursue a bachelor of sociology degree in indigenous knowledge, especially in places where there is a great deal of social interaction as well as opportunities to engage in social activities such as dealing with social issues,” Prof. Liyanage said.
Moreover, these courses will also include degree courses in indigenous pharmaceutical technology and in indigenous pharmaceutical resources, covering another unique field. Other courses provided include those that focus on agriculture and specialise in the study of chemical fertilisers as well as pesticide-free agriculture opportunities, which include specific training on how to produce organic fertilisers, how to obtain them from the natural environment, and how to prepare the relevant raw materials.
Prof. Liyanage stated that the creation of such courses will also provide an opportunity for graduates to contribute to the country with concepts relating to topics such as organic fertiliser production, which is much-talked-about today, with the potential to improve in the future.
This new university is also making agreements with foreign institutions to direct students pursuing all these degree courses for training and employment at the end of the degree. The GWUIM Senior Vice Chancellor stated that they will be working with both the public and private sector stakeholders, adding that providing self-employment opportunities are also among the privileges enjoyed by students pursuing these courses.
All these new degree courses are four-year special degree courses and the number of students expected to be enrolled for each course has been increased by 50% from the number of students enrolled in 2019. Accordingly, the number of students expected to be enrolled for one course this year will be 50.
(This article is written in collaboration with the Media Centre for National Development)