The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) held a discussion with the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association (SLPMA) on July 1, to explore collaborative pathways to develop the local pharmaceutical sector with a strong focus on export growth and overcoming key industry bottlenecks.
Representatives of the SLPMA, including Nalin Kannangara (President), Dinesh Athapaththu (Senior Vice President), Viraj Manatunga (Vice President), Dr. Janaka Wickramasinghe (COO, Navesta Pharmaceuticals), Dr. Anoop Segar (Sands Active (Pvt) Ltd.), and Kalana Hewmallika (Chairman, Gamma Interpharm) were present.
Today, around 25 local pharmaceutical manufacturers operate in the country, and they have collectively invested over Rs. 100 billion during the past ten years. These investments aim to expand manufacturing abilities and meet the increasing demand in domestic and international markets.
The local industry holds a 15% share of the domestic pharmaceutical market and supplies over 80% of its production to the government’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD). In 2024, Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical exports reached $ 8.07 million.
SLMPA President Nalin Kannangara said that the 23 member companies of the association supply around 35% of the pharmaceutical requirements of government hospitals and produce over 235 products locally. He emphasised that the primary constraint in accessing global markets lies in meeting the stringent international regulatory standards, a challenge inherent to this highly regulated sector.
