Medicinal drugs and medical equipment to be produced locally

17 December 2021 08:42 am Views - 121

• Plots of land were handed over to 15 investors to set up drugs and medical equipment production factories 
• An industrial zone for this purpose has been allocated at Oyamaduwa export processing  Zone in Anuradhapura

By Sandun A. Jayasekera  

The Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry has taken steps to produce all medicinal drugs and medical equipment that can be produced locally, State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said.   

An industrial zone exclusively to be used for medicinal drugs and equipment production has been allocated in Oyamaduwa export processing Zone in Anuradhapura for the purpose, he added.  

Plots of land were handed over to 15 investors to set up drugs and medical equipment production factories by Lands’ Minister S.M. Chandrasena and State Minister Prof. Jayasumana at the ‘Mihikatha Medura’ yesterday.  
The selection of investors for the project was conducted in an extremely transparent manner handled by a team of top officials. 

“The cost estimated at the initial stage for the project and to provide direct employment to 7,500 is around Rs. 28 billion. Our main objective is to save a good portion of about Rs. 65 billion foreign exchange spent on the annual medicine and equipment import bill from this project,” he said.