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Monks, native physicians call for legalising cannabis for medical purposes
by Saman Indrajith
The Sri Lanka Indigenous Medicine Confederation yesterday called on the government to legalise the use of cannabis to promote indigenous medicine.
Chairman of the Confederation Ven Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera yesterday said that even Buddha had preached the use of the plant for its medicinal use and, therefore, the government should think of legalising it for the promotion of indigenous medicine practices.
Addressing the media at the Sri Pangnananda Dharmayathana in Kelaniya Ven Nalaka Thera said that the indigenous medicinal practices, known as Hela Vedakama, had existed for generations in this country and had approved the medicinal use of the cannabis plant. “Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the people have realised the value of indigenous medicinal practices unlike in the pre-pandemic times. It is time we considered promoting the traditional methods and the use of ancient wisdom for the benefit of the people. The government has a duty to understand the need for conducting more research on the traditional methods rather than blindly seeking solutions from western methods.”
Ven Nalaka Thera said that the value of indigenous medicine was that the country did not have to rely on imports for its ingredients that could be found locally so that a huge sum of monies spent for medicine could be saved.
The Thera said: “Cannabis is used as an ingredient in most of the indigenous medicine and some native doctors have given up producing them because of the shortage of the ingredient since it has been banned because it is abused as a narcotic. The colonial rulers knew that banning cannabis would deal a major blow on the traditional medicinal practices. It is a valuable medicine. Even the Buddha had approved its use for medicinal purposes. It is mentioned in the Bhesajjabandhaka of Mahavagga Pali that the vapour of cannabis boiled in water should be used to cure body pains. There are references in Tripitaka of the use of cannabis hemp to prepare a type of robes known as Bahngam robes. It is said that wearing that robe will cure some illnesses. Therefore, we point out to the government there is nothing wrong in using cannabis as a medicine.”
Secretary of the Confederation Indigenous doctor Sarath Kotteyawatte said that it was shown on media how the law enforcing agencies set fire to stocks of cannabis plants captured during raids. “While indigenous doctors give up producing medicine because of the shortage or no availability of the plant owing to the ban, kilos of captured plants are set on fire. It is the objective of our Confederation to promote indigenous medicine and uplift it to its former glory. The prevailing laws are a stumbling block and we call on the government to remove that hindrance.”
Traditional Indigenous doctor Nimal Warnasuriya: “The pharmaceutical mafia is very powerful. The biggest loser in legalising cannabis and promotion of indigenous medicine is the pharmaceutical mafia. The plant has not only been used as a medicinal ingredient but as a spice in preparing curries so that it would help promote the health of the people. That also helped immunity of children. Not only in indigenous medicine, even in Ayurveda it is an accepted fact. There are references in Robert Knox’s An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon that the then Lankans used the plant for medicinal purposes. The government should rethink all of these and legalize the plant for its medicinal use.”
Executive Committee Members of the Federation Ven Anguruwelle Jinananda Thera, Ayurvedic doctor Anil Jayaweera and Matugama Seneviruwan also addressed the press.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
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