Manufacturers unveil national call to produce medicine in Sri Lanka as strategic priority

From left: National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Senior Advisor to President on Science and Technology Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation Chairman Prof. Jayantha Wijayabandara and SPLMA President Nalin Kannangara participate in a panel discussion moderated by SLPMA Senior Vice President Dinesh Athapaththu

The Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA), in a historic step, has issued a powerful national call to action urging all stakeholders to come together in a bold, unified effort to shape a future where Sri Lanka emerges as a trusted, high-quality and export-driven pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

In a decisive move to transform Sri Lanka’s local pharmaceutical industry into a thrust industry, the SLPMA hosted an industry-shaping event formally unveiling the theme ‘National Call to Produce Medicine in Sri Lanka – with Care, Trust and Unity’. 

The event coincided with the association’s Annual General Meeting and sought to drive a unified, multi-stakeholder dialogue on transforming Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector into a self-reliant, export-ready thrust industry. 

A landmark moment of the evening was the formal handover of the SLPMA’s national policy proposal, an inspiring blueprint that outlined the rationale for developing Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, a bold vision for its future and a set of actionable recommendations. This proposal, presented to key government officials, laid the foundation for a transformative new chapter in Sri Lanka’s healthcare and industrial development. It captured the very essence of the event’s theme: ‘A National Call to Produce 

Medicine in Sri Lanka – with Care, Trust and Unity’. 

The goal is to develop a thriving pharmaceutical industry that simultaneously addresses public health needs, pharmaceutical security, saves foreign currency, creates technical jobs and drives exports, supported by long-term policies linking industrial growth with health priorities. The SLPMA seeks to align all key stakeholders, from the policymakers to industry leaders, in building a robust, self-sustaining pharmaceutical sector for Sri Lanka.

SLPMA President Nalin Kannangara emphasised, “Today marks a landmark moment in our journey. Local manufacturers have held firm and remained resilient over the years, despite many challenges. Yet, this industry has not unleashed its full potential. With the right policy consistency and regulatory backing, we can build a true thrust industry—one that assures long-term pharmaceutical security for the nation.”

The ceremony also featured a high-level panel discussion conveying key industry insights, including Senior Advisor to President on Science and Technology Prof. Gomika Udugamsooriya, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation Chairman Prof. Jayantha Wijayabandara and Kannangara. 

The SLPMA’s proposal outlines a comprehensive national strategy built on five transformative pillars: strong policy support, enabling regulatory frameworks, industry commitment to quality and integrity, development of human talent and investment in research and supporting industries.

SLPMA Senior Vice President Dinesh Athapaththu added, “As an industry, we believe we should be held accountable and we seek the right support to meet that responsibility. We offer a clear roadmap to deliver high-quality yet affordable healthcare, retain our talent, and grow exports. I firmly believe it’s not too late, Sri Lanka can still rise to this national mission.”

Established in 1963, the SLPMA represents 25 of Sri Lanka’s local pharmaceutical manufacturers now and has remained resilient in an industry dominated by imports. 

Mounting challenges

The Sri Lankan pharmaceutical market is valued at approximately US $ 600 million, with 40 percent of demand serviced by government procurement and 60 percent through the private sector. 

Following the Guaranteed Buyback Agreement introduced in 2015, the government procurement from local manufacturers rose sharply from just 5 percent to nearly 30 percent, triggering over US $ 200 million in private-sector investments toward building modern manufacturing infrastructure. Although these gains demonstrate clear momentum in the government supplies, today, local manufacturers account for only 5 percent of private sector demand, highlighting enormous potential waiting to be unleashed through targeted policy support.

Despite progress in the government sector, the industry faces mounting challenges due to lack of consistent policy support and added pressure of expiring buyback agreements. Establishing a clear national roadmap has become critical for industry stability and growth. In addition, with rising global uncertainties and growing demand for accessible and affordable medicines, the timing of an initiative is critical and consequential.

The current proposal envisions Sri Lanka producing 75 percent of its pharmaceutical needs locally, establishing the groundwork for a US $ 1 billion export industry and creating over 10,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs for pharmacists, scientists, engineers and manufacturing professionals in next five to 10 years.

To implement the vision, the SLPMA proposes a multi-stakeholder task force comprising relevant government ministries, regulatory bodies, development agencies and industry representatives to establish a time-bound roadmap with measurable targets and coordinated policy support.