24 May 2010 03:13 am
The Ayurvedic Department has informed the Mirihana police to crackdown on illegal Ayurvedic massage centers operating under the guise of spas without a valid license, Ayurvedic Commissioner Ramani Gunawardena told Daily Mirror online.
The commissioner said that only 15 Ayurvedic centers are licensed to operate in the country including just five in Colombo but several illegal centers are in operation including nearly 50 which had their applications for a license rejected.
She noted that under the law a certified Ayurvedic doctor should be present at any licensed Ayurvedic massage center or spa and it is also illegal for a male to massage a female or female massage a male.
The commissioner said that a committee has been appointed to look into the operations of spas in the country while a special team has also been deployed and legal action will be taken against anyone violating the regulations.
Dr. Gunawardena meanwhile noted that some illegal spas continue to operate with the backing of influential persons and political figures. (Daily Mirror online)