About SLPMA

Shaping The Future Of
Sri Lanka's
Pharmaceutical Industry

In 1956, Sri Lanka made 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 to establish a footprint 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 such as Glaxo Allenburys (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 has 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, have divested their interests to Sri Lankan companies, now known as Morison Limited, Astron Ltd, and Gamma Interpharm (Pvt) Ltd, respectively. Over the past six decades, the SLPMA has emerged as a key player in ensuring national pharmaceutical safety.

The SLPMA has consistently worked to maintain the highest standards in Western medicine manufacturing. Comprising 27 members, the local private pharmaceutical manufacturers produce various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, suspensions, creams and ointments, injectables, inhalers (dry powder and metered dose), breath-induced inhaler devices, nasal sprays, oxygen, saline, and surgical instruments across various therapeutic categories. We are proud that more than 95% of our membership is made up of completely Sri Lankan-owned companies.

By manufacturing high-quality Western medicines, the members of the SLPMA actively contribute to creating a self-sufficient Sri Lanka, thereby saving foreign currency. Our ongoing Research and Development efforts, leading to innovations and the conduct of Bio-Equivalence Studies in partnership with Care Technology Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Kothalawala Defence University (KDU), continue to provide quality pharmaceutical products. Our unwavering commitment to local production and adherence to global safety standards ensures that patients visiting government hospitals, clinics, and private pharmacies receive quality medicines. Currently, our members manufacture more than 150 molecules of medicine, spanning over 50 therapeutic categories and exceeding 10 dosage forms. Local pharmaceutical manufacturers command 15% of the market share, and approximately 25% of the essential medicines used in government hospitals and clinics are supplied by local manufacturers.

Through a network of over 3,000 pharmacies across the island, our members extend their reach to provide locally manufactured Western medicines to patients. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the foreign exchange crisis, our dedicated, professionally qualified employees – both locally and internationally trained – worked tirelessly to ensure uninterrupted production and the supply of medicines to meet the needs of patients.

A new era in Sri Lanka’s healthcare service was heralded in 2015 through the “Guaranteed Buy Back Agreements” between the Ministry of Health and private sector local pharmaceutical manufacturers, under a public-private partnership scheme that was renewed in 2019. These agreements enabled manufacturers to invest in new factories, upgrade existing ones, and expand local pharmaceutical production. The expansion in capacity and adoption of advanced technology facilitated the manufacture and timely availability of high-quality medicines at affordable prices, ensuring improved accessibility for patients.

The agreements with the Ministry of Health have also supported members of the SLPMA in developing the export of medicines to South Asian countries, contributing to the earning of valuable foreign exchange. Relevant members of the Association are awaiting the execution of “Guaranteed Buy Back Agreements” with the Ministry of Health for further periods.

The SLPMA is also proud to announce a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA). Additionally, we have entered into MOUs with the Cambodian Pharmaceutical Distributor Association (CPDA) and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA). Together, we will work towards growing the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry through Research & Development, investments, technology transfer, quality assurance, and other collaborative efforts, contributing to the health of our nation and the growth of our economy.

The SLPMA takes great pride in its extraordinary journey, which continues to contribute high-quality, locally manufactured pharmaceuticals to improve healthcare in Sri Lanka. Its transformative power continues to shape the future of the industry.