Editing Sinhalese people (section)

===Medicine===
Traditional Sinhalese villages in early days had at least one chief Medical personnel called Weda Mahaththaya (Doctor). These people practice their clinical activities by inheritance. Sinhalese Medicine resembles some of Ayurvedic practices in contrast for some treatments they use Buddhist Chantings ([[Paritta|Pirith]]) in order to strengthen the effectiveness.

According to the [[Mahavamsa]], the ancient chronicle, [[Pandukabhaya of Sri Lanka]] (437–367 BC) had lying-in-homes and Ayurvedic hospitals (Sivikasotthi-Sala) built in various parts of the country. This is the earliest documentary evidence we have of institutions specifically dedicated to the care of the sick anywhere in the world.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Aluvihare|first=Arjuna|date=November 1993|title=Rohal Kramaya Lovata Dhayadha Kale Sri Lankikayo|journal=Vidhusara Science Magazine}}</ref><ref>''[http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ihsg/publications/pdf/No-42.PDF Resource Mobilization in Sri Lanka's Health Sector]'' – Rannan-Eliya, Ravi P. & De Mel, Nishan, [[Harvard School of Public Health]] & Health Policy Programme, Institute of Policy Studies, February 1997, p. 19. Accessed 22 February 2008.</ref> [[Mihintale]] Hospital is the oldest in the world.<ref>Heinz E Müller-Dietz, ''Historia Hospitalium'' (1975).</ref>