Lanka’s only Ayurveda Museum
An ayurvedic physician has built Sri Lanka’s first and only museum dedicated to the history of ayurvedic medicine in the country. the museum is situated at Dambana, in Mahiyangana.
Dr H.M. Withanaarchchi, together with his wife, set up the museum on a three-acre plot of land.
Over the years, the couple have been able to assemble an impressive array of animal parts, oils, medicinal plants and tools used in ayurvedic medicine.
The building that houses the museum too was designed and built by the couple at a cost of Rs 120 million. It was completed about a year ago and has been open to the public since then. Dr Withanaarchchi said it was his dream to somehow build a museum dedicated to ayurvedic medicine in the country.
While authorities did not initially give his project the attention it deserved despite several personal appeals, the physician said he was happy to see that it was now attracting crowds, both young and old.
Story and pix by Pitigala P Wijesinghe