SLPMA seeks national push to make pharma next export engine as the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (SLPMA) called for stronger policy support to transform the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry into a globally competitive export sector capable of generating foreign exchange, creating high-value employment, and strengthening healthcare security.
SLPMA seeks national push to make pharma next export engine through policy reforms
Speaking after assuming office as President at the Association’s 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM), SLPMA President Dinesh Athapaththu said Sri Lanka has spent decades building a capable pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, but its economic contribution remains significantly undervalued. He stressed that unlocking the sector’s full potential would require coordinated action from the Government, regulators, academia, and the private sector.
Reflecting on the Association’s 60-year journey, Athapaththu noted that Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical industry has evolved from a modest manufacturing base into one with several state-of-the-art production facilities capable of producing a broader portfolio of medicines while creating thousands of skilled jobs.
Despite this progress, he argued that policymakers have yet to fully recognise the strategic importance of the sector. According to Athapaththu, pharmaceutical manufacturing should not be viewed solely through debates over medicine pricing, procurement issues, or periodic shortages.
Instead, he said the industry represents a critical pillar of national healthcare security and economic development, with every locally manufactured medicine carrying a responsibility to protect patients while meeting the highest standards of quality and safety.
SLPMA seeks national push to make pharma next export engine by advocating the establishment of a multi-stakeholder national task force to develop a long-term strategy for the industry. Athapaththu said such a body should bring together policymakers, regulators, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to coordinate reforms that position pharmaceuticals among Sri Lanka’s next major export industries.
He expressed confidence that pharmaceutical manufacturing Sri Lanka has the capacity to become a significant contributor to export earnings if supported through consistent policy measures, investment incentives, and an efficient regulatory framework.
Athapaththu highlighted Sri Lanka’s strong scientific talent pool, noting that thousands of science graduates enter the workforce annually, many of whom remain underemployed due to limited opportunities in knowledge-intensive industries. The pharmaceutical sector, he said, is well positioned to absorb this talent while producing high-value products for international markets.
He also pointed to the size of the global pharmaceutical industry, estimated at US$1.8 trillion, arguing that Sri Lanka has ample opportunity to secure a meaningful share of that market.
Rather than viewing the country’s relatively small domestic market as a limitation, Athapaththu encouraged policymakers to focus on creating conditions that support international competitiveness. He cited countries such as Ireland and Singapore, which have successfully developed globally recognised pharmaceutical industries despite having comparatively small populations.
Sri Lanka’s geographic proximity to India should also be viewed as a strategic advantage, he said, allowing local manufacturers to access technology, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and specialised expertise while developing their own competitive strengths.
The SLPMA President outlined five strategic priorities to accelerate the industry’s transformation. The first is maintaining uncompromising standards in quality, regulatory compliance, and patient safety, recognising that failures by individual manufacturers can undermine confidence across the entire sector.
Secondly, he encouraged manufacturers to diversify beyond conventional generic medicines by investing in product innovation, advanced manufacturing technologies, and export-oriented production. Thirdly, he called for stronger partnerships with universities to ensure graduates possess industry-ready skills while expanding specialised education and training for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The fourth priority involves developing a broader pharmaceutical ecosystem, including packaging manufacturers, testing laboratories, bioequivalence centres, and other supporting industries that Sri Lanka currently relies on imports to supply. Athapaththu suggested that public-private partnerships could accelerate investment in these complementary sectors and strengthen the overall value chain.
He also acknowledged improvements made by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) over the past two to three years in reducing regulatory timelines but said further reforms remain necessary to attract investment and improve competitiveness.
Athapaththu proposed introducing fast-track approval pathways for locally manufactured medicines while strengthening structured dialogue between regulators and industry. Faster product registration, he argued, would improve investor confidence and enable companies to expand both domestic production and exports more efficiently.
SLPMA seeks national push to make pharma next export engine as the Association reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Government and industry stakeholders to build a globally competitive Sri Lanka pharmaceutical exports sector. It believes that sustained collaboration, policy consistency, regulatory efficiency, and continued investment in innovation can transform pharmaceutical manufacturing into one of Sri Lanka’s next major engines of export-led economic growth.