COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says the manufacturing capacity of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation will be increased with the support of Japanese government to expand the local production of pharmaceutical drugs.
According to details, a manufacturing facility will be constructed and equipped with modern machines and equipment at a cost of Rs1.5 billion. The agreement in this regard was signed recently at the Ministry of Health.
The production capacity of the Pharmaceutical Corporation has now reached a maximum level and the new facility will enable to double the production, the Minister said.
Currently, the Pharmaceutical Corporation manufactures about Rs1.9 billion tablets annually. After completion of the new factory the amount will be increased up to Rs3.8 billion.
The Pharmaceutical Corporation expects to manufacture 70 percent of the local demand of medicines. About 24 companies have signed agreements with the Pharmaceutical Corporation to manufacture pharmaceuticals and seven more companies are scheduled to sign agreements. New factories will be constructed in Kalutara, Horana and Kurunegala areas.
The Chairman of the Ayurvedic drugs manufacturing corporation Lal Samarasinghe said production of Ayurvedic drugs will also be increased and five new sales outlets will be opened in Mannar, Matale, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa and Colombo districts.
