About GWUIM and URCFIM

GWUIM (Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine) is one of Sri Lanka’s leading institutions dedicated to the education, research, and advancement of indigenous medical knowledge, particularly Ayurveda. Originally founded in 1929 by the Ayurveda visionary Paṇḍit G. P. Wickramarachchi, the institution began as Gampaha Siddhāyurveda Vidyālaya before evolving into the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute and ultimately attaining university status in 2021. Situated in Yakkala, Western Province, GWUIM operates under public university governance and is recognized by the Sri Lankan University Grants Commission. It currently comprises multiple faculties, including:

1. Faculty of Indigenous Medicine (FIM)
2. Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology
3. Faculty of Indigenous Social Sciences and Management Studies
4. Faculty of Graduate Studies

As the first dedicated indigenous medical university in Sri Lanka, GWUIM carries the responsibility of preserving traditional knowledge while integrating modern scientific methodologies.

URCFIM (Undergraduate Research Colloquium, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine) is an annual event hosted by Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, GWUIM, especially aimed at fostering a culture of research and innovation among undergraduates in Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine. The objectives of URCFIM include:

• Encouraging students from state, non-state, and international universities to engage in research
• Facilitating the dissemination of findings in Indigenous Medicine and Ayurveda
• Providing a platform to spotlight emerging innovators and researchers
• Promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building in integrative medical research

The Student Research Circle (SRC), working in collaboration with the Faculty Research Committee (FRCFIM), has successfully organized URCFIM in 2022, 2023, and now plans for URCFIM 2025.

In previous editions, students have presented original research, participated in innovation challenges, and deepened their exposure to research methodologies and collaboration opportunities at the University and National levels.  

URCFIM, initiated as a university-level colloquium at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, GWUIM, later evolved into a national event promoting undergraduate research in Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine. Marking a major milestone, URCFIM 2025 is now an internationally open research and innovation platform, welcoming participants from state, non-state, and overseas universities. This expansion reflects GWUIM’s commitment to advancing global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in Indigenous Medical Science.