UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Healing Without Borders: Indigenous Medicine as a Pathway to Ethnic Coexistence in Sri Lanka

A comprehensive field study examining the role of traditional (Ayurvedic) medicine in promoting ethnic coexistence in Sri Lanka, drawing on data collected from government Ayurvedic hospitals in each of the country’s nine provinces. The findings show that traditional medical institutions function as inclusive social spaces that transcend ethnic boundaries, helping to build mutual trust and spontaneous interaction between different communities through equitable healthcare.