Navesta Pharmaceuticals opens Sri Lanka’s First Sterile Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in Horana

Sri Lanka’s first EU-GMP, PIC/S compliant facility to enable exports of pharmaceuticals to international markets

Navesta Pharmaceuticals Private Limited has set the benchmark for the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector by opening the Country’s first sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Horana. Navesta Pharmaceuticals is Sri Lanka’s first European Union Good Manufacturing Practices (EU-GMP) and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co- Operation Scheme ( PIC/ S), compliant facility which will enable the Company to export their products to most global markets that accepts these accreditations. Additionally, the facility is also equipped with the Country’s first EU-GMP compliant A and B Grade Microbiology (MB) laboratory, capable of carrying out comprehensive, advanced in-house testing methodologies. Navesta Pharmaceuticals will primarily meet the local demand of 12 products in the Penicillin category (antibiotic drugs that are a part of the Beta Lactam group of medicines) dry powder injectable that were previ- ously imported to the Country. The plant was formally declared open by the Chief Guest, His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena on 30th August 2017. The Guest of Honour at the inauguration was the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Honourable Dr. Rajitha Seneratne.

Navesta’s 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility has a capacity to produce 50 million vials, saving millions in foreign expenditure for the Country. Navesta Pharmaceuticals will expand the facility in the coming years to increase its production capacity by three-fold and contribute significantly to the Sri Lankan economy with exports. With the set-up of this facility, over 100 direct employment opportunities were created to include local graduates from chemistry, engineering, finance and pharmaceutical studies, while over 500 indirect employment opportunities were created through local home industries and ancillary services.