A youth population of around 50,000 are working in massage centres, which are being run as spa establishments, the State Minister of Indigenous Medicine – Sisira Jayakody said.
He has said this during a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (Dec. 04).
The minister said that there are around 6,000 such establishments around the island which are registered only with the relevant provincial LG institutions and not with the Department of Ayurveda.
The Minister also announced a significant step toward reducing healthcare costs by exempting Ayurvedic products, medicines and industries related to indigenous medicine from Value Added Tax (VAT). The decision aims to make traditional medicine more accessible to the public.
Additionally, the State Minister mentioned that the cabinet has granted approval for the establishment of a special bureau dedicated to addressing issues affecting native doctors and ensuring the sustainability of the indigenous medicine system.
