The pharmaceutical companies in Sri Lanka are heavily dependent on imports, around 85 percent of demand comes from abroad.
The government plans to set up a pharmaceutical zone to manufacture some products locally. The Cosmetic Drugs and Devices Regulatory Agency regulates the pharmaceutical and medical sectors to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of drugs and medical devices.
Although many pharmaceutical imports are regionally sourced, the superior quality and effectiveness of Western-made devices are widely recognized by physicians and consumers. Medical device registration can be time-consuming and requires a lot of detail.
Private Hospitals in Colombo are equipped with the latest equipment and these hospitals offer good opportunities for U.S. providers.
Government bidding for equipment and projects is another opportunity for American healthcare companies.
Involving local representatives with experience in the medical sector and maintaining good connections with both public and private sector healthcare providers are important to the success of medical device suppliers.
US exports of medical devices and pharmaceuticals to Sri Lanka in 2019 were valued at approximately US$23 million.
Overview of the pharmaceutical sector in Sri Lanka
Demand for health services increases due to an aging population. The provision of health insurance has also supported the growth of the private healthcare sector.
There are 603 government hospitals in Sri Lanka, nearly 200 private hospitals of various sizes, 5,000 private pharmacies, and 1,000 laboratories.
The healthcare industry offers good opportunities for US medical devices: well-known international brands earn a premium.
Diagnostic equipment, surgical equipment, critical care equipment, clinical analyzers, and hematology equipment continue to offer the best sales opportunities for US firms.
Top Pharmaceutical Companies in Sri Lanka
Here is an organized and detailed list of some of the top pharmaceutical companies operating in Sri Lanka.
Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
PHONE: +94-11-4732600
FAX: +94-11-2448493
EMAIL: [email protected]
Address: P.O. Box 11 5, Upper Chatham Street Colombo 1 Sri Lanka
ASTRON LIMITED
Address: No: 688 Galle Road Colombo Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-112636741
Website: Visit here
Year Started: 1956
Incorporated: 1956
Braun Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
Phone: +94 11 2 667566
Fax: +94 11 2 667577
Address: Level 11, HNB Towers, No. 479, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, 10 Colombo Sri Lanka
Burhani Enterprises
Website: Visit here
Address: 1st floor, No. 10, Dam Street, Colombo 00120
Contact: 0094-11-2431857
Care Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
Address: 1, Katuhenawaththa, Ratnapura Road, Munagama, Horana 12400, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 34 226 2862
Email: [email protected]
Celogen Lanka Private Limited
Website: Visit here
Address: BOI, Celogen Private Limited, Lot No 7A Industrial Park, Pallekele, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 812 424 831
Fax: +91 22 41588750
Email: [email protected]
CIC Lifesciences Factory
Website: visit
Address: 199, Kew Road, Colombo 2.
Telephone: +94 112328421/6,+9411 2359359
FAX: +94 112446922
Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
Dimath Pharmaceuticals (Private) Limited
Website: Visit here
Address: Suhada Mawatha Batapola Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 912 261 222
Emar Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Phone: +94-112-810-913
Email: [email protected]
Address: 23, Anderson Road , Kalubowila, Dehiwala- 10350, Sri Lanka.
EMERGEN LIFE SCIENCES (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Address: No : 663 Biyagama Road Pethiyagoda Colombo, Colombo, 10 Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-112686493
Website: Visit here
Year Started: 2012
Incorporated: 2012
Euro Asian Pharma
Website: click here
Address: Meegaha Pedesa, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-11-2505376/7
Fax: +94-11-2505375
Email: [email protected]
Flowers Pharma Lanka Pvt Ltd
Phone: 075 783 3290
Address: 16 MABOLA SUPER MARKET MABOLA WATTALA COLOMBO 11300 Sri Lanka
George Steuart Health (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Address: No. 7E, Postmaster’s Place, Off Templers Road, Mount Lavinia.
Phone: 0114202800-9
Fax: 0112733121 | 0114202804 | 0112729884
Email: [email protected]
GSK
Website: Visit here
Address: 5th Floor, Paramount Tower 192/10, 9th Lane Nawala Road, Nawala Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 759 8373
Fax: +94 11 2635000
HEMAS MANUFACTURING (PVT) LTD
Address: 75, Braybrooke Place, Colombo, Colombo, 2 Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-114731731
Website: click here
Year Started: 1993
Incorporated: 1993
ISOLEZ BIOTECH PHARMA AG
Website: click here
Address: 72. KIRULAPONE ROAD, COLOMBO 06, SRI LANKA
PHONE / FAX: 0094 11 2252422
Email: [email protected]
HOT LINE: 0094 713815232
Junaht International (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
EMAIL: [email protected]
Phone: +94 (77) 238 7600 , +94 (77) 372 6788, +94772387600
Address: 39/A, Welisarawatte ,2nd Lane, Mahabage. Sri Lanka Zip Code : 71722
LifeLink Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Address: LifeLink Pharma (Pvt) Ltd No 160/1-C-3, New Kandy Road, Biyagama, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94112468833
Email: [email protected]
Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Address: PO Box2, Malinda, Kapugoda Sri Lanka.
Phone: +94 115 60 60 60, +94 112 14 55 00
Fax: +94 112 409 293
Email: [email protected]
Mansel Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
Address: No 73, Isipathana Mawatha, Colombo 05.
Tel: +94 -(011)-2582299, +94 -(011)-2582301, +94 -(011)-2582302
Fax:+94 -(011)-2583777
E-mail: [email protected]
Markss Healthcare
Website: Visit here
Address: No. 153/3, Nawala Road, Narahenpita, Colombo 05. Sri Lanka.
Phone: +94 112 368 686
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +94 112 368 267
Medulix Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
Phone: 077 190 4508
Address: No.855/4/1, Siyambalapewatta, Delgoda 11700 Sri Lanka
Mega Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Address: 93/5, Dutugemunu Street, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 11 2812390-1, +94 11 4203596-7
Email: [email protected]
MORISON PLC
Address: 620, Biyagama Road Pethiyagoda, Kelaniya Colombo, Colombo Sri Lanka See other locations
Phone: +94-112904222
Website: Visit here
Year Started: 1939
Incorporated: 1939
Navesta Pharmaceuticals
Address: No. 29/3 Kirimandala Mawatha Nawala, Rajagiriya Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 (11) 286-1800
Fax: +94 (11) 286-5847
Email: [email protected]
NF Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit here
Phone: +94 11 4327627
Address: No. 12, Siri Dhamma Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
Email: [email protected]
Pharmatec Pvt Ltd.
Office: No:45A, Cemetery Road, Thalapathpitiya, Nugegoda Warehouse: 439, Thalawathugoda Road, Madiwela, Kotte
Telephone: +94 112 778 942
Hotline: +94 77 283 9340
Fax: +94 112 779 869
Email: [email protected]
PIRAMAL GLASS CEYLON PLC
Address: No. 148 Maligawa Road Colombo, Colombo Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-112635481
Year Started: 1955
Incorporated: 1955
Queen’s pharmacy
Website: Visit here
Address: No.3,31-D1/1,Maithiripala Senanayaka Mw, Anuradhapura, Sri lanka.
Contact No: 0094253248949.
Email: [email protected].
Rohto Mentholatum Lanka (PVT) Ltd
Website: click here
Address: No. 57 Grandpass Rd, Colombo 01400, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 112 337 098
Seregen (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Address: 61/A/4 Midellamula Hena Estate Thalgahawila Road, Horana Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 342 262733,+94 342 262766
SIDDHALEPA AYURVEDA HERBALS (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Address: No: 33/3, Sri Dharmarama Road Ratmalana Colombo, Colombo Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-112736910
Website: visit
Year Started: 1934
Incorporated: 2007
Sigma impex
Website: visit
Phone: 0112 692 657, 077 739 3424
Address: P De S Kularatne Mawatha Colombo 00800 Sri Lanka
Slim Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Phone: +94 11 2 681 680
Fax: +94 11 2 407 884
Email: [email protected]
Address: 98/10, Namal Mawatha, Kahantota Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka
STATE PHARMACEUTICALS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION OF SRI LANKA
Address: No 11, Sir John Kotalawala Mawatha Kandawala Estate Colombo, Colombo Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-112636966
Year Started: 1987
Incorporated: 1987
SUPER FEED (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Address: Off Aluthnuwara Road Edanduwawe, Mawanella Mawanella, Colombo, 71500 Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-352248195
Website: Visit here
Year Started: 1990
Incorporated: 2008
Tabrane Pharmaceuticals
Address: No. 4/75, Thalakotuwa Garden, Polhengoda Junction, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 11 573 7750
Fax: +94 11 251 4363 / +94 11 251 4383
Email: [email protected]
T.M.I Solutions (Pvt) Ltd
Website: click here
Address: No 20 – 1/1,Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Kirulapone, Colombo 06.
Hotline: +94 11 4322 000
FAX: +94 11 5359217
Email: [email protected]
Villogen Pharma (Pvt) Ltd
Website: Visit
Phone: 0812 065 570
Address: 614, Colombo Road, Nanuoya Pilimathalawa 20450 Sri Lanka
Yaden Pharmaceutical Importers and Distributors
Address: 67 Norris Canal Rd, Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 112 687 330
Regulation of pharmaceutical products
The law proposed several departments, with the regulatory department of medicine responsible for the regulation and control of the drug license.
However, as new regulations are being drafted, NMRA intends to move to the CTD (Common Technical Document) format. This is not the first time Sri Lanka is considering applications for medicines. New molecules must first be approved by a “reference” authority and have at least two years of post-marketing experience.
This requirement can be waived for medicinal products of national importance (e.g. dengue vaccination).
Currently, NMRA considers the following agencies to be “reference” agencies for new molecules: US FDA; Health Canada; EMA; MHRA, UK; AMP, Sweden; CBGMEB, Netherlands; TGA, Australia; and Medsafe, New Zealand.
The review process includes an expert review. These are generally summary reports since a strict reference body has already carried out the complete data. Pharmacovigilance and postage monitoring are areas that require greater strengthening.
Drug development activities
New drug discovery and development activities take place at two opposite ends of a continuum, but none of them go through the full development cycle in Sri Lanka.
There is particular interest in phytochemicals as the country has a rich biodiversity in flora and a traditional system of herbal medicines.
Potential chemicals are identified, structures elucidated and some non-clinical studies performed. The Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Colombo have taken the lead in these activities.
On the other hand, the safety and effectiveness of molecules developed in joint clinical trials are evaluated. Sponsors use the data generated to support new drug applications submitted to strict reference authorities.
The NMRA governs trials of new molecules and products for unlicensed indications, including studies initiated by local researchers for new indications and new dosing regimens for existing molecules.
Approval from a recognized ethics committee is mandatory for these studies. Currently, applications for the first international multi-center Phase 2 human trials require approval from a reference agency. All trials must be prospectively registered with the Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry.
Frequently Asked Questions about the pharmaceutical companies in Sri Lanka
Which is the best pharmaceutical company in Sri Lanka?
Soins Global is the leading pharmaceutical brand with an impact on the health prospects and goals of people across Sri Lanka and the world. It is closely followed by Truvic Private Limited and Tabrane Pharmacy.
In what year was the national pharmaceutical industry of Sri Lanka established?
In 1987, the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) was formed.
What are the Sri Lankan Pharmaceutical Industry total expenditures?
In 2017, drug expenditure in Sri Lanka (sales of medicines in hospitals and pharmacies at consumer prices) was US$642 million and is estimated at US$664 million in 2018.
By 2022, the market is worth $642 million – $787 million, representing a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%.
How can one import medicines into Sri Lanka?
The following documents are required:
- Copy of a valid prescription issued by a registered doctor.
- Letter of request from the patient or a guardian of the patient.
- Copy of the patient’s or legal guardian’s ID card/passport/driver’s license.
- Application form signed by the prescribing physician.
Conclusion
The Sri Lankan pharmaceutical market is valued at US$400 million per year. Regulating the prices of these drugs have a huge impact on the health of the population.
The revised drug pricing formula, introduced in 2016, ensures that essential drugs are sold below a maximum recommended retail price at all times. Senaratne said it could reduce the prices of certain drugs by up to 85%.
The revised pricing policy is a major achievement in upholding patients’ right to access affordable medicines in Sri Lanka.
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