By: Staff Writer
October 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is gaining momentum with growing private sector investment and advanced technology integration, positioning the country to reduce import dependency and enhance local drug production capacity.
Highlighting this progress, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa recently visited LAUGFS Life Sciences Ltd., a leading sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing facility located within the Koggala Export Processing Zone under the Board of Investment (BOI). The visit underscored the government’s encouragement of private sector participation in strengthening the national healthcare supply chain.
The facility, a subsidiary of LAUGFS Holdings Ltd., represents one of the most advanced sterile infusion therapy manufacturing plants in the region. It contributes to Sri Lanka’s growing network of over 25 pharmaceutical manufacturing factories currently operating under BOI and private ownership a significant step toward the government’s target of meeting 50 percent of the nation’s pharmaceutical demand through local production in the next few years.
During the inspection, Minister Jayatissa commended LAUGFS Life Sciences for pioneering Large Volume Parenteral (LVP) production using Euro Multiport and Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) technologies.
These systems ensure sterile, safe, and efficient production with minimal human handling, a major advancement in infusion therapy manufacturing. “This project is a commendable step forward for Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector. By investing in advanced pharmaceutical technologies, LAUGFS Life Sciences directly supports our goal of enhancing local production and saving valuable foreign exchange,” the Minister said.
Sri Lanka currently spends nearly USD 700 million annually on pharmaceutical imports. Industry experts note that local manufacturers like LAUGFS Life Sciences, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC), and several BOI-approved private ventures can help reduce import expenditure by as much as 30 to 40 percent within the next few years if production continues to expand.
LAUGFS Life Sciences CEO Dr. Rajiv Perera said the company’s advanced production lines will soon introduce infusion therapies on par with global standards. “With Euro Multiport and FFS technologies, we are ensuring the highest levels of quality and safety while delivering affordable solutions for both the public and private health sectors,” he noted.
Group CEO Dr. Ravi Edirisinghe added that LAUGFS’s investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing aligns with its broader mission to create sustainable, value-driven industries. “Through LAUGFS Life Sciences, we are not only contributing to the national healthcare agenda but also building Sri Lanka’s reputation as a regional hub for quality-driven pharmaceutical manufacturing,” he said.
The Health Minister emphasized that public-private partnerships are vital to building a resilient healthcare ecosystem. “Initiatives like this ensure patient safety, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen national health security,” he remarked.
Industry analysts highlight that the expansion of domestic pharmaceutical production supported by over 15 new projects under construction and increased investment incentives will create thousands of skilled jobs, enhance export potential, and reinforce Sri Lanka’s standing in the South Asian medical manufacturing landscape.
With companies such as LAUGFS Life Sciences leading the way, Sri Lanka’s private sector is now playing a pivotal role in transforming the country into a self-sufficient, innovation-driven pharmaceutical producer, ensuring long-term health security and economic stability.
