Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Mahishini Colonne highlighted opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation at the Ambassadors’ Conference on Healthcare Technologies and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, held on 08 September 2026 in New Delhi as part of the Pharma MachTech Expo & LabNext Expo 2026.
Organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC India), the conference brought together diplomatic representatives from 15 countries, senior Indian government policymakers and industry representatives to discuss investment and trade opportunities, developments in pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare technologies, and prospects for international partnerships.
Colonne said India and Sri Lanka already share a strong pharmaceutical trading relationship, but emphasised the scope for moving beyond trade towards manufacturing, investment and technology partnerships. She identified opportunities across the pharmaceutical value chain, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), medical devices, laboratory and diagnostic technologies, and quality-control systems.
The case for investment is strengthened by Sri Lanka’s reliance on imported medicines. The country currently imports the majority of its pharmaceutical requirements, while domestic manufacturers meet only a modest share of demand. According to Colonne, this creates significant opportunities for manufacturing and investment partnerships that could expand domestic production capabilities.
Sri Lanka has also placed pharmaceutical manufacturing among its priority investment sectors. Qualifying manufacturing projects are eligible for extended tax incentives and fast-tracked regulatory approval through the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. Colonne further highlighted the dedicated pharmaceutical manufacturing zone in Hambantota, established for companies seeking to develop production and technology capabilities in Sri Lanka.
Trade access provides another potential advantage for Indian investors. Sri Lanka’s existing Free Trade Agreement with India allows more than 50 categories of pharmaceutical products and medical devices to receive duty-free access to the Indian market, adding a regional dimension to the country’s investment proposition.
Beyond commercial considerations, Colonne stressed the growing importance of manufacturing capacity and supply-chain resilience to health security. Greater cooperation between India and Sri Lanka could therefore extend into technology transfer, skills development, research collaboration and regulatory cooperation, alongside investment and production.
Sri Lanka’s geographical proximity to India, its established institutional relationship with the country and its growing openness to investment across the pharmaceutical value chain were identified as foundations for deeper cooperation. The emphasis on these areas reflects an effort to connect existing bilateral trade with broader opportunities in manufacturing and healthcare technology.
The High Commissioner also invited Indian industry stakeholders to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2027, Sri Lanka’s flagship trade and investment exhibition, which will be held in Colombo from 14 – 17 January 2027. The Expo is expected to provide Indian companies and other international stakeholders with an opportunity to explore trade, investment and partnership opportunities in Sri Lanka.
The Ambassadors’ Conference formed part of the second edition of Pharma MachTech Expo & LabNext Expo, held from 7 – 9 September 2026 in New Delhi. The conference provided a platform for Sri Lanka to present its pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare investment opportunities alongside discussions involving diplomatic representatives, policymakers and industry stakeholders from multiple countries.
