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Lanka and India collaborate to boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing Industry
Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association celebrates six decades of excellence in the western pharmaceutical industry
As part of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association’s 60th anniversary, Lankan drug manufacturers are set to forge a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with their Indian counterparts to enhance the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry by leveraging investments and technology transfer.
A press release issued by the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (SLPMA) said: In 1956, Sri Lanka took a momentous leap into the Western pharmaceutical industry when Pfizer –Dumex Ltd, entered the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This pivotal step marked the beginning of Sri Lanka’s journey towards its foot print in the pharmaceutical field.
The SLPMA was inaugurated in October 1963, under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, by pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, GlaxoAllenburys (Ceylon) Ltd, Reckitt & Coleman (Ceylon) Ltd., M.S.J. Industries (Ceylon) Ltd, Pfizer –Dumex Ltd and Warner-Hudnut (Lanka) Ltd. Since then Reckitt & Coleman (Ceylon) Ltd., ceased the manufacture of pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka and the foreign shareholders of M.S.J. Industries (Ceylon) Ltd, successors to Pfizer –Dumex Ltd and Warner-Hudnut (Lanka) Ltd., divested their interests to Sri Lankan Companies, now known as Morison Limited, Astron Ltd. & Gamma Interpharm (Pvt) Ltd, respectively. The SLPMA has over six decades emerged as a force for national pharmaceutical safety.
Comprising of 23 members, including local private pharmaceutical manufacturers manufacturing in different dosage forms – ie. tablets, capsules, liquids, suspensions, creams and ointments, injectables, inhalers (dry powder and metered dose), breath induced inhaler devices, nasal spray, oxygen, saline and surgical instruments in various therapeutic categories, the SLPMA is proud to be composed entirely of 100% Sri Lankan owned companies. They manufacture more than 150 molecules of medicines, consisting of more than 50 therapeutic categories and exceeding 10 dosage forms. Local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals command 15% of the market share and approximately 25% of the essential medicines used in the government hospitals and clinics are supplied by such manufacturers.
The SLPMA has a network of more than 3,000 pharmacies across the country extending its reach to provide locally manufactured western medicines to patients.
Private sector local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals entered in to agreements with the Ministry of Health in the year 2015 under a Public Private Partnership scheme which ware renewed in the year 2019. These agreements enabled such manufacturers to invest in new factories and upgrade their existing factories expanding local pharmaceutical production. This has allowed SLPMA to make available and deliver high-quality medicines on time at affordable prices and improve accessibility to patients.
The agreements with the Ministry of Health are also assisting members of the SLPMA to develop the export of medicines to Asian countries, which will contribute to the earning of valuable foreign exchange.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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