Abstract:
Medicinal plants have significant roles in human livelihood and are medically, culturally and economically important resources for the local people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 percent of the population in developing countries relies on traditional medicine, mostly in the form of plant drugs for their health care needs. Additionally, about 25 percent of plant derivatives are used in the n1odem medicines. As Sri Lanka’s Northern part is very close to India, herbs which are found in India are found in Sri Lanka too (Sathiyaseelan, 2008). Large numbers of moderate to high value medicinal plants, herbs and vines naturally exist in Jaffna district. However of the existing medicinal plants only very small percentage is traded due to unawareness of medicinal plants distribution within the Jaffna peninsula. This study examined the current situation of selected important medicinal plants naturally grown in and mapped their distribution in Jaffna district in order to conserve and promote their cultivation.
