Horiwila Ayurveda Wedagedara

Dr. Sena Banda inherits a long tradition of orthopedic treatments in Sri Lanka. The name and fame of Horiwila village in the North-Central province of Sri Lanka (over two hundred kilometers from Colombo) became world famous with the rich traditional orthopedic medicinal treatment that one family inherited for centuries and its unblemished continuation to the twenty first century. During its 1500 years of existence, this unique indigenous treatment system, in many times has superseded the orthopedic treatment technics of the western and other medicinal procedures. 

Honoring the true Sri Lankan rituals through a non-commercial practice without a price-tag, but purely for the betterment of humanity, Dr Sena Banda Senanayake only expects a bundle of beetle leaves from the patients – a traditional mark of request to the doctor by the patient for treatment. Commencing the practice at least an hour before the dawn, he would treat at least 300 patients by dusk on an average day.   

Dr. Sena Banda inherits a long tradition of orthopedic treatments in Sri Lanka. The name and fame of Horiwila village in the North-Central province of Sri Lanka (over two hundred kilometers from Colombo) became world famous with the rich traditional orthopedic medicinal treatment that one family inherited for centuries and its unblemished continuation to the twenty first century. During its 1500 years of existence, this unique indigenous treatment system, in many times has superseded the orthopedic treatment technics of the western and other medicinal procedures. 

Dr. Sena Banda Senanayake cut his teeth in traditional indigenous orthopedic medicine when he was a young school boy in late 60s by helping his father Dr. S M Herathhamy who was a well-known orthopedic traditional practitioner in Sri Lanka. The third in the family of eleven children, Dr. Sena Banda was the rising star in the family displaying unequivocal talents of continuing the long tradition of indigenous medicine. He would whole-heartedly continue the non-commercial nature of the practice even in a highly commercialized environment in the present day context. 

After shifting to Wedagama (Village of indigenous medical practitioners), a closer proximity to Colombo, at the request of the then President of Sri Lanka Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1983, he still continues the yeoman service from this traditional village. With the pride of treating many Executive Presidents in the country, Dr Sena Banda was regularly recognized as a royal practitioner in the traditional indigenous medicine. 

His knowledge and skills were expanded to the Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine regulation since 1987 as he was appointed a member of the Ayurveda Medical Council – and also to the university system where he was appointed to the Board of Management of the Ayurveda Faculty of the Colombo University and the Wickramarachchi Ayurveda College of the Kelaniya University. 

Positions held so far:

•1987 – 1990 : Member of the Ayurveda Medical Council 

•1990 - 1993: Director, Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Corporation

•1994 – 2002 : Member of the Ayurveda Medical Council  

•1994 – 2002 : Member, Board of Management of the Ayurveda Faculty of the Colombo University

•1999 – 2013: Member, Wickramarachchi Ayurveda College of the Kelaniya University. 

•2003 – 2009: Director, Ayurveda Pharmaceutical Corporation

•2010 – Present: Member, Board of Management of the Ayurveda Faculty of the Colombo University

•2012 – Present: Member of the Ayurveda Medical Council  

The latest addition to the generation is Herathhamy’s grandson Dr. Prasad Senanayake who was graduated from India as a surgeon, Indian Ayurvedic specialist and yoga treatments. Nonetheless, his main method of treatment is not any of these, but his own heritage of over 1500 years – Horiwila Indigenous Orthopedic Medicine.  

Dr. Prasad Senanayake, the elder son of Dr Sena Banda, with his sound knowledge both on Indian Ayurveda (BAMS) as well as Sri Lankan indigenous medicine becomes the 33rd link to the unblemished record of Horiwila tradition. 

 

Dr. Sena Banda performing treatment to a patient in Wedagama