A significant step toward advancing Sri Lanka’s scientific infrastructure was taken as the Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) signed a $15 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with STEMedical, a U.S.-based biotechnology firm, to establish an internationally accredited laboratory in the country.
The MoU was signed at the Presidential Secretariat under the National Initiative for Research and Development Commercialisation (NIRDC). Signing on behalf of STEMedical was its founder, Professor Hans Keirstead, while SLIBTEC Chairman Prof. Samitha Hettige and Chief Operating Officer Amali Ranasinghe signed on behalf of Sri Lanka.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the lab will be developed to meet international accreditation standards and will serve critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, cosmetics, Ayurveda, and import/export quality assurance.
Senior Presidential Advisor on Science and Technology, Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya, highlighted the lab’s strategic value, saying it will contribute directly to doubling Sri Lanka’s export revenue by 2030. He described the occasion as a “special day for Sri Lanka” and stressed the importance of laboratory accreditation in boosting national and international trust in local products and services.
The facility is expected to operate as a central hub, supporting a network of laboratories across the country, and will play a key role in ensuring the quality and safety of goods and services.
Professor Hans Keirstead, a globally renowned stem cell scientist and CEO of the Human Immunome Project, expressed enthusiasm about Sri Lanka’s leadership and scientific vision. He noted that the project will have both clinical and economic benefits, potentially generating revenue by accrediting imported products like pharmaceuticals.
Other dignitaries present included Russel Aponsu, Senior Additional Secretary to the President; Dr. Muditha Senarath Yapa, Director-General of NIRDC; and Dr. Nistor Gabriel Loan, CEO of STEMedical.
This collaboration marks a milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to integrate world-class scientific research and infrastructure with its national development agenda.
