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 Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (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.
The SLPMA has been committed to striving for maintaining the highest standards in the Western medicine manufacturing industry. Comprising of 23 members, including Local Private Pharmaceutical Manufacturers manufacturing in different Dosage Forms – ie. Tablets, Capsules, Liquids, Suspensions, Creams & Ointments, Injectables, Inhalers (Dry Powder & 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.
By manufacturing high-quality western medicines, we are actively contributing to the creation of a self-sufficient Sri Lanka, which will result in the saving of foreign currency. Our unwavering commitment to local production and adherence to global safety standards, ensures that patients visiting government hospitals and clinics receive quality medicines. Presently, our members 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.
Through a network of more than 3,000 pharmacies across the island, we extend our reach to provide locally manufactured Western medicines to patients. Even during the challenging times of the COVID -19 pandemic and the foreign exchange crisis, our dedicated professionally qualified foreign & locally trained employees worked long hours tirelessly, to ensure uninterrupted production and supply of medicines to meet the need of 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 there existing factories expanding local pharmaceutical production. This has allowed us 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.
celebrate there 60th anniversary, they are proud to announce that a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be entered into with the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA). Together, they will embark on a shared mission to grow the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry with investments and transfer of technology, to provide a healthy life for the people of our country and develop our economy.
Join us on this extraordinary journey, with the purchases of locally manufactured pharmaceuticals towards better healthcare for Sri Lankans and witness the transformative power of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, as we continue to shape the future of the industry.
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