Sri Lanka Calls for Stronger India Partnership in Pharma & Healthcare

Beyond investment and trade, Sri Lanka has identified technology transfer, skills development, research collaboration and regulatory cooperation as potential areas for a stronger India partnership.

Sri Lanka has called for an expanded partnership with India in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare technologies, as the country looks to strengthen domestic production, attract investment and build more resilient healthcare supply chains.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, has highlighted these opportunities at a recent conference in New Delhi, urging Indian industry to look beyond pharmaceutical trade towards investment, manufacturing and technology partnerships across the healthcare sector.

While India and Sri Lanka already share established pharmaceutical trade ties, Colonne pointed to opportunities for deeper collaboration across the value chain.

These include active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), medical devices, laboratory infrastructure, diagnostic technologies and quality-control systems.

Sri Lanka's dependence on imported medicines has further strengthened the case for new manufacturing investments.

Domestic manufacturers currently meet only a limited portion of the country's pharmaceutical demand, creating opportunities for Indian companies and other investors to support local production capabilities.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing has been identified as a priority investment area by Sri Lanka.

Eligible projects can access tax incentives and expedited regulatory processes through the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.

The country has also established a dedicated pharmaceutical manufacturing zone in Hambantota to support companies developing production and technology capabilities.

Trade access was also highlighted as a potential advantage for investors.

Under the existing Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka, more than 50 categories of pharmaceutical products and medical devices are eligible for duty-free access to the Indian market, according to the Sri Lankan High Commission.

Beyond investment and trade, Sri Lanka has identified technology transfer, skills development, research collaboration and regulatory cooperation as potential areas for a stronger India partnership.

Building manufacturing capacity closer to regional markets is also becoming increasingly important for healthcare security and supply-chain resilience.

The proposed partnership could connect existing trade relations with new opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare technology, and research.

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