February 03, Colombo (LNW): Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has issued a firm directive to officials to implement comprehensive regulations governing all ingredients and products within Sri Lanka’s Ayurvedic medicine and cosmetic sectors.
The move aims to ensure greater oversight and enhance the safety and quality of these widely used products.
The minister’s comments came during a ceremony at the Ayurvedic National Hospital in Rajagiriya, where the newly appointed Chairman and members of the Ayurvedic Medicines and Products Council were presented with their appointment letters.
Addressing the need for tighter control, Minister Jayatissa underscored the growing concern over substandard products entering the market.
He stressed that the primary goal of the new regulations is to guarantee that the public has access to safe, high-quality, and reliably standardised Ayurvedic products.
“The most pressing issue we face today lies within the cosmetics sector,” the minister explained. “There are serious health risks associated with many of these products, compounded by the illegal smuggling of unregulated items. Additionally, we must address the rise of cosmetic products falsely claiming to be Ayurvedic. To rectify this, we will need to amend the NMRA Act, a process that will take some time, but it is a crucial step towards improving the situation.”
Minister Jayatissa’s call for enhanced regulation follows growing concerns over the safety of certain Ayurvedic cosmetics, which have raised alarm among both the public and health authorities.
