A Milestone in Research & Innovation: The 3rd International Research Symposium on Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Marking a significant milestone in Indigenous knowledge integration to academia, the 3rd International Research Symposium on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (3rd IRSIKS 2025), held on February 28th and March 1st 2025.
Distinguished guests included Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan Ayurveda University, India, who served as Guest of Honor, and Professor Ranjana Wickrema Seneviratne, Vice Chancellor of Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka, who attended as Chief Guest. The inaugural ceremony took place at the Kethumathiya Banquet Hall in Bemmulla, Yakkala, through collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the High Commission of India, Colombo. The event attracted diverse local and international participants from various academic and professional fields.
The symposium employed a hybrid format on March 1st, 2025, featuring 129 in-person presentations at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine (FIM) and 30 virtual presentations. Scholars, researchers, and professionals from multiple disciplines engaged in thought-provoking discussions on practical applications of multidisciplinary research. From keynote speeches to panel discussions and research presentations, IRSIKS 2025 demonstrated the value of knowledge exchange and the potential of integrating Indigenous wisdom into contemporary scientific discourse, highlighting the relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems in addressing modern challenges.
The key committee members from the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine were as follows:
● Conference Chair: Professor K.P.P. Peiris, Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, GWUIM
● Conference Co-Chair: Professor A.A.J. Pushpakumara, Department of Shalya Shalakya, FIM, GWUIM
● Conference Secretary: Dr. N.S. Abegunasekara, Lecturer, Department of Ayurveda Basic Principles, FIM, GWUIM
● Treasurer: Dr. M.S. Pallie, Senior Lecturer, Department of Dravyaguna, FIM, GWUIM
The 3rd IRSIKS 2025 successfully created a valuable platform for researchers, scholars, and innovators to collaborate and share their work in indigenous knowledge systems.
