Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry concludes 9th AGM

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Medical Devices Industry (SLCMDI) held its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on May 30 at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. 
The event was attended by over 150 participants, including representatives from various government and private sector entities such as the Ministry of Health, NMRA, SPC, the German Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Sri Lanka Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceuticals Industry, and other dignitaries from the medical device industry.

A key highlight of the SLCMDI calendar, the AGM featured the election of a new president and council by its members. The chief guest for the event was Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), with Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, immediate past president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), serving as the guest of honour. 
During the AGM, Tilak Fernando was elected as the new president for the year 2024/25 by the SLCMDI management council. The outgoing president, Pradeep Amarawardena, highlighted the activities conducted during his tenure.

In his acceptance speech, Tilak Fernando pledged to work closely with NMRA to resolve industry issues and expedite the issuance of long-delayed medical device regulations. He also addressed the concerns of certain companies moving away from the government tender bidding system due to its cumbersome process and inevitable tender and contract clauses, advocating for a more streamlined and fair system to encourage wider participation and ensure the procurement of high-quality products at 
competitive prices.
Established in 2015 with 15 companies, SLCMDI now represents 80 members, encompassing 90 percent of medical device manufacturers and importers in Sri Lanka. The organization’s vision is to ensure a regulated, equal opportunity, and ethical industry, with a mission to create meaningful solutions for the medical device industry in Sri Lanka.