The first batch of foreign delegates, a thirty-member delegation from Sri Lanka, reached Thiruvananthapuram on Monday to attend the World Ayurveda Congress 2002 (WAC), to be held in Kochi for four days from November 1, 2002.

This is first batch of 75-member contingent from Sri Lanka, headed by Upalipilapitiya, former Director of Bandaranayake Ayurveda Research Centre, Sri Lanka, according to a press communiqué from the organizers.

The communiqué stated that the organising committee has received confirmed participations not only from countries where Ayurveda is widely in practice, but from such countries like Chile, Fiji, Italy etc where scientific practice of Ayurveda is scarcely popular.

A 10-member delegation is arriving from Fiji. Moreover, Malaysia, USA, UK, etc will also depute their delegations comprising of policy makers at different levels for the event.

The World Ayurveda Congress 2002, with its focal theme 'Ayurveda and World Health' is aimed to attain global recognition to the 5000-years old traditional healthcare system of India. About 2500 delegates from over 50 countries, 300 plus stalls showcasing the history and ancient traditions of Ayurveda and also the latest scientific and research advancements, contingents from overseas, presence of the who's who in Ayurveda and related systems, will be the highlights of the WAC 2002, the organisers stated in the press communiqué.