Ayurveda Act, No. 31 of 1961
The Ayurveda Act, No. 31 of 1961 was certified on 2 June 1961 to provide for the development and regulation of traditional medicine in Sri Lanka. It is the oldest active act in the traditional medicine domain and covers four distinct systems of indigenous medicine: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Desiya Chikitsa.
The Act established a comprehensive three-pronged institutional framework: the Department of Ayurveda (a government department for promotion and service delivery), the Ayurveda Medical Council (a body corporate for practitioner registration and discipline), and the Ayurveda Education and Hospital Board (for education standards and the Central Hospital at Borella). It has been amended three times over 62 years — most recently by Act No. 19 of 2023, which modernized the framework with provisions for herbal garden registration, massage therapist regulation, and upgraded the head of Department to Commissioner-General.
Full text: Ayurveda Act (PDF — Parliament of Sri Lanka) | 2023 Amendment: Act No. 19 of 2023 (PDF — Parliament of Sri Lanka) | ~77+ sections in 6 Parts. Three amendments: 1969, 1977, 2023.
Act Structure
The Act is organized into six Parts covering the full lifecycle of traditional medicine governance — from institutional establishment to practitioner registration and general provisions.
| Part | Sections | Topic | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | S.2-9 | Department of Ayurveda | Establishes the Department under a Commissioner (now Commissioner-General); objects, powers, staff |
| Part II | S.10 | Ayurveda Fund | Creates a dedicated fund for the Department's activities |
| Part III | S.11-51 | Ayurveda Medical Council | Establishes the Council as a body corporate; composition, powers, fund (S.21A-21D) |
| Part IV | — | Education & Hospital Board | Establishes the Board for education standards, examinations, Central Hospital, herbariums |
| Part V | S.52-68 | Registration of Practitioners | Registration of practitioners, pharmacists, nurses; disciplinary provisions |
| Part VI | S.69-77+ | General Provisions | Offences, penalties, regulations, Ayurveda Code (S.77) |
Key Sections
| Section | Topic | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Department established | Creates the Department of Ayurveda as a government department |
| 3 | Commissioner-General | Head of Department appointed by the Minister (title upgraded from Commissioner by Act 19/2023) |
| 7 | Objects of Department | Development, promotion, and regulation of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Desiya Chikitsa |
| 10 | Ayurveda Fund | Dedicated fund for Department activities |
| 11 | Council established | Creates the Ayurveda Medical Council as a body corporate |
| 12 | Council composition | Commissioner-General as Chairman; practitioners and government nominees |
| 21A-21D | Council Fund | Financial management and audit provisions (inserted by Act No. 9 of 1969) |
| 52-63 | Registration | Registration of Ayurveda practitioners, pharmacists, and nurses |
| 64-68 | Disciplinary control | Inquiries, removal from register, appeals |
| 77 | Ayurveda Code | Minister may prescribe a Code of standards for Ayurveda practice |
Statutory Bodies
Department of Ayurveda (Part I)
The Department is a government department (not a body corporate) established under Part I. It is headed by the Commissioner-General for Ayurveda (title upgraded from "Commissioner" by the 2023 amendment), who is appointed by the Minister.
Objects (Section 7):
- Development and promotion of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Desiya Chikitsa
- Establishing and maintaining Ayurvedic hospitals, dispensaries, and herbal gardens
- Providing grants and subsidies for Ayurveda institutions
- Conducting and promoting research in indigenous medicine
- Advising the Minister on all matters relating to Ayurveda
Post-2023 additions:
- Registration of herbal gardens and medicinal plant cultivations
- Oversight of herbal raw material sustainability and quality
Unlike the Medical Council (which is a body corporate with its own legal personality), the Department is a government department — it acts through the Crown and does not have separate legal standing. This distinction matters for contracts, property holding, and legal proceedings.
Ayurveda Medical Council (Part III)
Established by Section 11 as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. The Council is the primary regulatory body for traditional medicine practitioners in Sri Lanka.
Key functions:
- Registration of Ayurveda practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, and massage therapists (post-2023)
- Maintenance of practitioner registers
- Disciplinary inquiries and removal from registers
- Setting standards for professional conduct
- Administration of the Council Fund (S.21A-21D)
Composition: The Council is chaired by the Commissioner-General for Ayurveda (ex-officio). Members include representatives from Ayurveda medical education institutions, elected representatives of registered practitioners, and government nominees appointed by the Minister.
Registration categories:
| Category | Sections | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda medical practitioners | S.52-63 | Main register; covers all 4 systems |
| Ayurveda pharmacists | Part V | Dispensing and compounding |
| Ayurveda nurses | Part V | Nursing in Ayurveda institutions |
| Massage therapists | Post-2023 | Added by Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023 |
Ayurveda Education and Hospital Board (Part IV)
The Board is responsible for education standards, qualifying examinations, and management of the Central Hospital of Ayurveda at Borella. After the 1977 amendment, its educational role was restructured to align with the University of Colombo's Institute of Indigenous Medicine.
Key functions:
- Setting curricula and standards for Ayurveda education
- Conducting qualifying examinations for practitioners
- Managing the Central Hospital of Ayurveda (Borella)
- Overseeing herbariums and teaching institutions
- Approving institutions for Ayurveda medical education
The 1977 amendment restructured the Board after the Government Ayurveda Vidyalaya at Borella was incorporated into the University of Colombo as the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM). Educational oversight is now shared between the Board and the University Grants Commission.
Registration Framework
The Act established a multi-tier registration system for traditional medicine professionals:
| Register | Governing Body | Qualification | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda Medical Practitioners | Medical Council | Qualifying exam or recognized degree | S.64-68 (inquiry, removal, appeal) |
| Ayurveda Pharmacists | Medical Council | Qualifying exam | S.64-68 |
| Ayurveda Nurses | Medical Council | Qualifying exam | S.64-68 |
| Massage Therapists | Medical Council | Registration requirements (2023) | S.64-68 |
Unregistered practice is an offence under Part VI. Penalties were significantly increased by the 2023 amendment to deter unauthorized practitioners and protect public safety.
Herbal Gardens & Cultivations (2023)
The Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023 introduced new provisions for the registration and regulation of herbal gardens and medicinal plant cultivations. This addresses growing concerns about:
- Sustainability of herbal raw materials used in Ayurveda medicines
- Quality control of medicinal plants entering the supply chain
- Conservation of endemic medicinal plant species
- Standardization of herbal cultivation practices
The Department of Ayurveda is responsible for the registration and oversight of herbal gardens under these new provisions.
Ayurveda Code (Section 77)
Under Section 77, the Minister may prescribe an Ayurveda Code — a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines for Ayurveda practice. In 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft Ayurveda Code, which aims to standardize:
- Clinical practices across all four traditional medicine systems
- Drug formulations and pharmacopeia standards
- Professional conduct and ethical guidelines
- Quality standards for Ayurveda medicines and preparations
As of early 2026, the Ayurveda Code has received Cabinet approval (2024) but its formal gazetting status is not confirmed. Once gazetted, it will be the most comprehensive subsidiary instrument under the Act.
Four Systems of Traditional Medicine
The Act uniquely covers four distinct systems of traditional medicine, reflecting Sri Lanka's multicultural medical heritage:
| System | Origin | Primary Texts | Practitioners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda | Indian subcontinent | Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita | Largest group — majority of registrations |
| Siddha | Tamil tradition | Siddha texts attributed to 18 Siddhas | Concentrated in Northern and Eastern provinces |
| Unani | Greco-Arabic tradition | Canon of Medicine (Ibn Sina) | Smaller community, primarily in Muslim-majority areas |
| Desiya Chikitsa | Indigenous Sri Lankan | Oral and manuscript traditions | Traditional healers; paramparika (hereditary) practitioners |
Amendment Timeline
Amendment Act No. 9 of 1969 — Financial Auditing
The first amendment, enacted 8 years after the principal Act. Addressed a gap in the original legislation by inserting financial management provisions for the Ayurveda Medical Council.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sections 21A-21D | Inserted to establish the Ayurveda Medical Council Fund |
| Accounting requirements | Council must maintain proper accounts |
| Audit | Accounts subject to annual audit |
| Reporting | Financial reports to the Minister |
Amendment Law No. 7 of 1977 — University Alignment
Enacted to restructure governance arrangements following the integration of Ayurveda education into the university system.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Board restructuring | Composition and functions of the Education and Hospital Board modified |
| University alignment | Ayurveda Vidyalaya integrated into University of Colombo as IIM |
| Educational oversight | Shared between Board and University Grants Commission |
Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023 — Modernization
The most significant amendment in 62 years, comprehensively modernizing the Act:
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Commissioner-General | Title upgraded from "Commissioner for Ayurveda" to "Commissioner-General for Ayurveda" |
| Herbal gardens | New registration and regulation regime for herbal gardens and medicinal plant cultivations |
| Massage therapists | Registration of massage therapists brought under the Ayurveda Medical Council |
| Increased penalties | Fines and penalties significantly increased for unregistered practice and other offences |
| Modernization | Various provisions updated to align with contemporary healthcare governance standards |
Amendment Act No. 19 of 2023: PDF (Parliament of Sri Lanka)
Entity Relationships & Governance
Governance Hierarchy (1952 Design)
Current Replacement Structure (Post-1989)
Data Confidence
Cross-References
The Ayurveda Act has significant connections to other legislation:
| Related Act | Relationship |
|---|---|
| Homoeopathy Act, No. 7 of 1970 | Parallel traditional medicine regulation; enacted after the Ayurveda Act to address homoeopathy separately |
| Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital Transfer Act, No. 51 of 2007 | Transferred the Gampaha Wickramarachchi teaching hospital to the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute (University of Kelaniya) |
| Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 | Governs the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (University of Colombo) and Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute |
Research Gaps
- Exact section references for Part IV (Education and Hospital Board) not confirmed from accessible sources — the original 1961 Act text is partially illegible in the National Library scan
- Council composition details: exact number of members, quorum, and term length require access to the principal Act and all three amendments in consolidated form
- Board composition: membership structure after the 1977 restructuring not confirmed
- Source documents for 1969 and 1977 amendments not located — only the 1961 principal Act and 2023 amendment have confirmed online sources
- Financial data: Ayurveda Fund and Council Fund accounts not publicly accessible
- Practitioner statistics: current number of registered practitioners by category not confirmed
- Provincial operations: how provincial Ayurveda services relate to the national Department is not documented in the Act
- Ayurveda Code (S.77): gazetting status following 2024 Cabinet approval not confirmed
- Data confidence is rated "medium" across all categories due to limited access to the full consolidated Act text