The Government is considering amendments to the Ayurveda Act, No. 31 of 1961, with the aim of modernising and upgrading the legal framework governing Ayurveda, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni said.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (26), Dr Wijemuni said that, along with the proposed amendments to the Homoeopathy Act, the Health Ministry is also seeking views on changes that need to be introduced to the Ayurveda Act. “We are also seeking the views of various parties these days on changing the Ayurveda Act,” he said.Informed Ministry sources, when contacted for further comment on the matter, stated that the proposed changes are aimed at modernising and upgrading the existing Law to meet the current requirements. The sources noted that the Ayurveda Act had been amended on several occasions, with the most recent Amendment being the Ayurveda (Amendment) Act, No. 19 of 2023.

The 2023 Amendment introduced several changes to the 1961 Act, including changes relating to the Ayurveda Medical Council and the administration and regulation of Ayurveda. The proposed review would therefore seek to further update the legal framework governing Ayurveda in line with present requirements.