At a time when the country is recovering from an economic crisis, I, on behalf of the people of the Northern Province, extend my gratitude to the His Excellency the President of the National People’s Power Government, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the Minister of Health, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, for providing the highest number of Ayurveda Medical Officers to our Northern Province at one time, said the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
42 Ayurveda Medical Officers have been appointed to the Provincial Department of Indigenous Medicine, operating under the Ministry of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Probation and Child Care Services of the Northern Province. Of these, 36 have been appointed to hospitals under the Indigenous Medicine Department, and 6 to the office of the Commissioner of Local Government of the Northern Province. The ceremony to issue appointment letters to them was held this Friday morning – 07th November 2025, at the auditorium of the Jaffna Regional Health Services Office in the Health Village, Pannai.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, the Governor said: People will say there are no jobs and demand government employment. Once they get the job, they will ask for the department to be near their homes. You should not do that. Until now, due to the absence of Ayurveda Medical Officers in the other four districts besides Jaffna, we faced significant challenges in district coordination committee meetings. These appointments have rectified that.
Indigenous medicine is not just an ordinary treatment method. It is the lifeblood of our ancient cultural heritage. This treatment system is a beautiful confluence of the plants and herbs of our soil, natural lifestyle practices, and the experiential wisdom of generations. This tradition must be protected from being lost; it must be properly passed on to the new generation; the role you are about to play in this is one of great responsibility and pride.
Our goal is clear — health services must reach every place where people live. Not just in urban centres, but in the last settlements of remote villages. In this journey, as Ayurveda Medical Officers, you will be the closest and most trusted medical service personalities reaching the people.
Your service is not merely dispensing medicine — it is comfort, hope, and humanity. The appointment you receive today is not just a job opportunity. It is a commitment to public service. When people come to you with trust, you must protect that trust.
We are well aware that public service in many sectors has been largely neglected until now. You must not be a continuation of that history, but a generation that changes that moment.
Every time you meet a patient, ask yourself: ‘If this situation were me or my family, how would I approach it?’ That one question alone will guide you on the path to providing excellent service.
Steps are being taken to establish the Northern Province Department of Indigenous Medicine as a place that is closest to public service, accessible, and efficient. Instead of keeping provincial administrative offices centred only in Jaffna, many departments are being geographically distributed to equalize access across the province. The opening of the Land Department office in Kilinochchi and the operation of the Irrigation Department in Mankulam are examples of this. Similarly, we will establish the Indigenous Medicine Department in a centre that benefits the people the most.
Be ready to serve — the government and provincial administration have taken responsibility for protecting your rights and welfare. Your service begins today. The people will determine the meaning of that service. I wish you to shine as a beacon of trust in their hearts, he said.
The event was attended by Mr. S. Kapilan, Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordination Committee Chairman, Mrs. P. Jeyarani, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Indigenous Medicine, Probation and Child Care Services of the Northern Province, and Dr. Thillaiyampalam Sarvanandan, Commissioner of the Provincial Department of Indigenous Medicine.
