The Sri Lankan government is actively working to ensure the public has access to high-quality, effective, and affordable medicines. This was emphasized by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalintha Jayatissa at the opening of the 65th State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) branch in Narahenpita, located at 209, Kirula Road.
The Minister announced that a government program is underway to establish State Pharmacy branches across the island, covering all 130 secondary and tertiary hospitals and major private hospitals. This initiative aims to provide quality medicines at fair prices.
“Third State Pharmacy Opens in Narahenpita Under Current Government”
The Narahenpita branch is the third State Pharmacy opened since the current government came into power, following branches established in Mount Lavinia and Kiribathgoda. This expansion aligns with the current Health Minister’s vision to establish State Pharmacy branches island-wide, based on public demand.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Jayatissa stated that establishing these pharmacy branches nationwide is a strategic move to ensure continuous service delivery to the public, especially during potential challenges in the Ministry of Health and Mass Media’s drug supply process.
He acknowledged that the SPC has taken on the crucial responsibility of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of medicines, which is a major challenge currently facing the Ministry. The Minister highlighted that two years ago, numerous issues, including a lack of drug orders due to corruption and irregularities, severely disrupted the drug supply. He noted that the new government inherited a highly problematic situation regarding drug availability when it took over the Ministry of Health, and this situation continues to contribute to current drug shortages.
Minister Jayatissa pointed out that officials have been questioned in investigations regarding past conduct, and while these investigations have caused some disruption to the health sector, they must continue without interruption. He affirmed that the efforts of the current government, as a team, are yielding results, with the drug supply process being systematically restored, a change that the public is now experiencing.
Highlighting increased efficiency, the Minister stated that while the SPC conducted only 68 tenders for drug procurement in all of 2024, they have already carried out 268 tenders in just the first five months of this year. He expressed confidence that the timely execution of the procurement process will enable the government to provide necessary high-quality medicines to government hospitals as required next year. Furthermore, a special program for obtaining medicines through government-to-government agreements is in its final stages.
The Minister also cautioned that the drug business is highly lucrative, and individuals from generations involved in illicit drug rackets, which even led to the loss of Professor Senaka Bibile’s life, are still active and exerting influence over the SPC. He revealed that a small group, affiliated with certain political parties and funded by some drug companies, is systematically using social media to target honest officials who are working to streamline the drug supply process.
Minister Jayatissa warned that these racketeers intend to discourage honest officials and remove them from the program, a fact confirmed by intelligence reports. He assured the public that the government will not allow this to happen and will continue to expand the network of State Pharmacies to supply high-quality, standardized medicines to the state hospital system at fair and reduced prices.
SPC Chairman Specialist Dr. Manuj C. Weerasinghe stated that plans are underway to establish State Pharmacy branches in selected locations in the Batticaloa, Kegalle, Trincomalee, and Puttalam districts within the next few months.
The Narahenpita branch, like others, will provide the public with access to high-quality, standardized medicines at fair prices, under the service of experienced pharmacists. Additionally, senior citizens, pregnant mothers, children under five years old, and “Ranaviru Viru Sara” cardholders will receive a special 5% discount on medicines.
The State Pharmacy in Narahenpita will be open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays.
The public can confidently purchase medicines from this branch, as all drugs are tested at four stages in the SPC’s quality laboratory using modern technological equipment before being released to the market.
The State Pharmaceutical Corporation, founded in 1971 by Professor Senaka Bibile with the primary objective of providing high-quality, effective medicines at fair prices to the Sri Lankan public, has been supplying quality medicines at reasonable prices for over 53 years.The opening ceremony was attended by SPC Managing Director Mewan Sampath Subasinghe Arachchi, General Manager Ms. Ayanthi Alwis, Deputy General Managers, managers, divisional heads, heads of state institutions near the Narahenpita pharmacy, and local residents.
