DR. HIMALEE DE SILVA

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo

- By Dr. Sulochana Segera

Dr. Himalee De Silva (BAMS, BSC, MD (Ay), PG Dip in Env. Sc, Dip in Yoga, Dip in Psy) is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, with over 15 years of experience as an academic, researcher, and Ayurveda practitioner.

Her career spans diverse fields, beginning in sports physiology at the Ministry of Sports, serving in Sri Lanka's war-affected North Central Province, and later specializing in Ayurveda Psychiatry at Banaras Hindu University, India, where she also earned a diploma in yoga. In 2018, she founded Veludvara, Sri Lanka's first Ayurveda-based wellness homestay, combining indigenous knowledge with sustainable tourism.

A recipient of Women in Management's “Member of the Year” award in 2020, she is an advocate for women's empowerment, environmental health, and holistic living. Currently pursuing her PhD, Dr. Himalee De Silva continues to promote Ayurveda as a global wellness model while balancing her many roles as lecturer, researcher, entrepreneur, mentor, wife, and mother.

You have an impressive academic background with multiple degrees across Ayurveda, Science, Environment, and Yoga. What motivated you to pursue such a diverse educational path?

My parents were my greatest influence, instilling the belief that education is the most valuable asset for a woman to establish her place in society. While my personal interest leaned toward science and environmental studies, my father encouraged me to pursue Ayurveda. Over time, I came to see how Ayurveda, psychology, and yoga complemented my scientific training. Together, they gave me a holistic perspective that bridges traditional wisdom with modern science, enabling me to approach wellbeing in a multidimensional way.

You started your career in sports physiology at the Ministry of Sports. How did that experience contribute to your later work in indigenous medicine and Ayurveda?