Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Jayatissa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the public healthcare system by expanding access to essential medicines, during the opening ceremony of the 65th State Pharmacy branch of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) in Narahenpita, Colombo. The new branch, located at No. 209, Kirula Road, is part of a broader initiative led by the Minister to establish a more accessible and reliable state pharmacy network across the country.
This marks the third new branch launched under the current administration, following recent openings in Mount Lavinia and Kiribathgoda. The expansion aims to ensure uninterrupted access to quality medicines through a state-managed supply chain.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Jayatissa acknowledged previous disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply system caused by irregular procurement practices and the failure to place timely bulk orders. He highlighted that corrective measures have already shown results, with the SPC issuing 268 medicine procurement tenders within the first five months of 2025—compared to just 68 tenders throughout all of 2024.
SPC Chairman Dr. Manuj C. Weerasinghe added that the expansion will continue, with new branches scheduled to open soon in Batticaloa, Kegalle, Trincomalee, and Puttalam districts.
The Narahenpita branch offers high-quality medications overseen by qualified pharmacists and provides a 5% discount to senior citizens, pregnant mothers, children under five, and Ranaviru Virusara card holders. Operating hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
To ensure public safety, all medicines dispensed through the state pharmacy network undergo rigorous four-level quality testing at SPC’s advanced laboratory facilities.
