-Sri Lanka has signed the Biodiversity Convention in 1992,with the objective of conserving biodiversity, sustainable use and equitable sharing of its benefits. According to the provisions of the said Convention, the Government is committed to take action to deal with the cultural diversity related to biodiversity, the indigenous people and their knowledge, its products and practices and to take measures to preserve them.

Accordingly, the National Policy and Strategies on Traditional Knowledge and Practices related to Biodiversity prepared by obtaining the comments and suggestions from the public with the contribution of all relevant stakeholders and under the guidance of the National Experts Committee on Indigenous Knowledge and Practices established under the Ministry of Environment was submitted to the Cabinet by the Minister of Environment and the Cabinet granted approval for the same.