“Ayurveda” is not known only as a form of medication – it is a way of life known to generations of Sri Lankans for over 3000 years. The form of medicine that was practiced in the olden days was of course Ayurveda, as modified to suit local conditions and needs. It is quite natural that Sri Lanka with its close geographical ethnic and cultural ties with India has also adopted the system of medicine practiced in the Sub-continent. Majority of the people particularly in the rural areas depended on Ayurveda, for treatment of their illnesses. Today, Ayurveda is increasingly sought after by western societies as an ‘alternative medicine’, and a number of hotels in Sri Lanka offer Ayurveda packages.