National Institute of Traditional Medicine was Established  at Boralla Ayurveda Hospital, with the proposal of Project for Development of Traditional Medicine (1984) fund ed by UNDP/WHO. It was shifted to Navinna Ayurveda Complex in 1996. A new building for NITM was constructed by the Sri Lankan Government expending Rs 22 Million including 3 lecture halls, a Library and a hostel for accommodation. Ceremonially it was opened by Late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranayake on 3 rd October 1996.

Especially this institute is conducting training programs for Traditional Physicians, Medical Officers, Other staffs and communities. There are 7 Divisions for training as follows; 

1. Traditional Medicine Division

2. Management Development Training Division

3. Drugs Production Development Training Division

4. Medicinal Plant Division

5. Community Health care Division

6. Nutrition & School programs Division

7. Information & Statistics Division

   Training Programs

   Skills development of the Traditional medical practitioners programs

   To update the knowledge of Ayurvedic fundamentals. Conservation of the Traditional knowledge.To update the knowledge of Ayurvedic   drug manufacturing

   Awareness for development & cultivation of the medicinal plants

   	To update the knowledge of the traditional practitioners.
   	To update the knowledge of the Traditional Ayurveda medical students.
   	Training program for Agriculture instructors
   	To update the knowledge of Ayurveda medical officers.
   	Identification & cultivation program for school children.

    

Knowledge Development of the manufacturing of medicine  

• To update the knowledge of Ayurveda drug manufactures.

• Drug manufacturing training for Pharmacist & supporting staff.

Special programs  

• Primary Health Care Programmes in many part of the Island.

• Training of Ayurveda Nurses. 

In Service Training  

• Administrative management for Ayurveda Medical officers in charge.
• Office management training for the Clerical staff.
• Training for supporting staff.
• To Improve  knowledge of the Languages

National Institute of Traditional medicine is a Governmental Establishment, functioning as an Educational and Training Institute under the Department of Ayurveda. Its main objectives are the development of Traditional medicine and human resources for improvement of the health of the community through the systematic establishment of traditional health-care systems and to promote the health care through the development of human resources which need to upgrade the systems of Indigenous medicine in the National Health Conservation Structure.  

Objectives

1. Development of the human resources to promote the health care among the community through the utilization of the human resources exists in the Indigenous medicine system.

   Collecting, conservation & spreading the Traditional Knowledge deal with the Indigenous medicine

Sections

Development of Community Health