Sri Lanka’s pharma ambitions take shape, the largest plant set to take off

Pics By Samantha Perera

• Synergy Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Pvt) Ltd a game changer- says Health Minister   

In the post-independence era, Sri Lanka achieved a lot in  terms of social development compared to other countries in the region.  Sri Lanka is way ahead of countries such as India, Pakistan,  Bangladesh and Nepal in South Asia in this regard. The country can be  proud of its achievements in terms of its progress in quality healthcare  and high literacy level.   

Nevertheless, the picture is not always rosy since Sri  Lanka is lagging behind others in other aspects. For example, Bangladesh  is a country with a population of 120 million. Yet, it imports only 8.5  per cent of its pharmaceuticals. The rest is manufactured locally and  exported, including to countries such as the United States. On the  contrary, Sri Lanka, a country with just a little more than 20 million  people, depends on imports for 85 per cent of its pharmaceuticals.   

India is a world leader in the pharmaceutical sector.  Pakistan also boasts of an advanced pharmaceutical industry. Sri Lanka,  despite its advanced human resources and strategic location abutting  vital trade arteries in the Indian Ocean, has failed to realise its  potential.   

However, it is now heading to be a thing of the past, with  one of South Asia’s key pharmaceutical manufacturing plants now bracing  for production by the end of this year in the Export Processing Zone of  Bingiriya in the Kurunegala District.   

Spread over 4.23 hectares of land, the plant is now coming  up as a US $ 120 million investment by Synergy Pharmaceuticals  Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, a fully owned Sri Lankan company. It will turn  out oral solids, injectables, Hormone formulations and high potency onco  products once production starts, both for the local and export markets.     

At the invitation of the company, Health and Media Minister  Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa undertook an observation tour of the project site  last Saturday.  Having seen for himself the state-of-the-art machinery  being installed and activated for manufacturing drugs of export  quality, Dr. Jayatissa pledged to extend the maximum possible assistance  by the government for the company to increase local pharmaceutical  production. That is part of the government’s ambitious plan to reduce  import dependency according to a time-bound action plan.   

In his address to the company management and employees at  the end of his observation tour, he said the Ministry is planning to  meet all the pharmaceutical needs of people seeking treatment at the  government’s hospitals without any shortage.   

The government allocates nearly Rs.200 billion for it  annually. He admitted shortcomings in hospitals at the moment because of  past wrongs, and promised to iron them out gradually in the months to  come. “As the government, we need to attract large investments in  the pharmaceutical sector. We see today people from other sectors  joining the pharmaceutical industry for investments. I am happy to see  that you (Synergy Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Pvt) Ltd) has set a  benchmark for newcomers. Now, new players have to follow your  benchmarks,” he said.  He assured that the Board of Investment (BoI) would give  necessary facilities for the project in the realisation of its targets.     

“The President’s vision is to improve the local  manufacturing base,” he said. The Minister said Sri Lanka will be eyeing export destinations such as nearby India and Africa.   

He cited the new plant as an evolution in the local pharmaceutical industry.   

Ravi Wijeratne, the company’s chairman, is overwhelmed by  the achievement. His investment is now about to yield with the company  planning for test productions by the end of this year and market  manufacturing by the middle of next year, according to him.   

He said the company would contribute 20 per cent to Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical requirement once in full swing.   

In his view, Sri Lanka has two unique advantages over  others in manufacturing pharmaceuticals – availability of quality  groundwater and a skilled workforce.   

“Our groundwater quality is better than other countries.  Then, it is easier for purification to be used in manufacturing  products. Likewise, our workforce has better IQ levels. They grasp work  easily. We stand better positioned as a result for manufacturing Sri  Lanka,” he said.   

Along with the chairman, the company’s Managing Director,  Dr. Rohan Wijesundera assert that plans are now in progress to obtain  accreditation by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European  Union’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the United Kingdom’s  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for exports in the  future.   

Asked about competition from regional manufacturers, he  said that is an area where the government can assist by way of  cushioning off the tax burden. Dr. Wijesundera said 80 per cent of  products would be exported   

Investment in the pharmaceutical industry is always prudent  because the demand is steadily increasing. According to 2023 statistics made  available to the press, 58 million people died of diseases such as  cardiovascular diseases (30 per cent), cancer (16 per cent), chronic  respiratory diseases (six per cent) and diabetes (three per cent).   

Once established, the company will generate around 2,500 jobs. It will stop brain drain in the country.   

With its strategic vision, advanced infrastructure, and  focus on global standards, Synergy Pharmaceuticals is not only  addressing a national need but also positioning Sri Lanka as an emerging  hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing in South Asia.