The Executive Committee of Health in 1936 recommended the establishment of an institute for research in indigenous Medicine Through the recommendation received the a pproval of the state council nothing was accomplished. In 1947 the Guptha Commission deplored the lack of facilities for research and recommended the steps to be taken. Unfortunately these recommendations were not implemented either.

This situation stood in contrast to the position in India where much useful work was done in the field of research at Calcutta, Madras and Luknow.The question was brought into focus again in 1956 when the well known Ayurvedic journal in India “Nagarjuna” Commented editorially on the need for the establishment of an Ayurvedic research Institute in Sri Lanka.

The late Mr. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike the prime Minister, directed Pandith Shiva Sharma an eminent Ayurvedic Physician from India who was in Colombo in connection with writing a report on the development of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka, to work on the idea advanced in “Nagarjuna”. The recommendation of Pandith Shiva Sharma that the research institute at Navinna was set up. It was named as Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurveda Research Institute. The place selected for housing the research institute was spacious and valuable building standing on a land of 17 acres in extent on the Old Kottawa Road, Nawinna, Maharagama.

The Research Institute was ceremonially declared open by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the Prime Minister of India on the 14th October 1962. The entire expenditure on the Research Institute was met from the Hospital Lotteries Fund. A library, a pathologica l laboratory and a model herbarium were started to aid the work of the Institute.

Vision :

 To be the leader in Ayurvedic Research for the nation.

Mission:

Conduct focussed & well planned research and development in every aspect of Ayurveda to enhance & improve the contribution of Ayurvedic medicine to the healthcare of mankind.

Goals :

• To ensure the formation of a self sufficient world community by the application of scientific research methodology based on Ayurvedic principles and concepts.
• Discovery of new Indigenous Medical preparations for providing safe, qualitative and economical treatments through Ayurvedic Research.
• Establishment of an appropriate background to provide safe and qualitative therapeutic treatments through Ayurvedic research.

© 2006 All Rights Reserved by Department of Ayurveda
Old Kottawa Road, Nawinna, Maharagama
Sri Lanka.