The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) launched a dialogue with the National Initiative for R&D Commercialisation (NIRDC) to explore avenues of support to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector through Research and Development.
The meeting took place on July 7 at the EDB premises. Private sector representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, NIRDC, and EDB were present.
President of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA), Nalin Kannangara, outlined the significant capital investments pharmaceutical companies are making to upgrade production standards and venture into high-tech pharmaceutical manufacturing. Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), Prof. Jayantha Wijayabandara said that Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical industry remains largely a formulation-based sector, dependent on imports for key raw materials such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and excipients. He stressed the urgent need to develop local API manufacturing abilities to reduce dependency and to explore export potential. He urged NIRDC to prioritise R&D support for local API production as an initial step toward sector transformation.
Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, Prof. Gomika Udugamasuriya said that the NIRDC is already engaged in strengthening links between industry and academia, advancing product standardisation, and promoting the commercialisation of research.
Chairman of the EDB, Mangala Wijesinghe also spoke.
