Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
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President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the opening of Sri Lanka’s first life-saving pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant at Katunayake yesterday. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Ministers Mahinda Amaraweera and Nimal Siripala de Siva and Yaden Laboratories Chairman Shashimal Dissanayake are also present
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday reiterated the need for a stable national policy to rebuild Sri Lanka, insisting on the importance of an export-oriented economy.
“A strong economic policy and political stabilisation are essential to improve Sri Lanka’s economy and place it in the international sphere,” he said, opening Sri Lanka’s first life-saving pharmaceutical manufacturing plant established by Yaden Laboratories in Katunayake yesterday.
The President further pointed out the need to work under a common national policy irrespective of party differences to rebuild the country.
“We should all follow one national policy. We can engage in our daily debates, but we need to make one national policy. If we continue with that national policy, we will never fail. We made the mistake of changing policies with every change of Government,” he added.
He also said discussions on a strong national policy can take place using the National Council as the platform.
“We must have a good economic framework. There should be a good social framework as well as a political framework. Our economic framework depends on the stability of the political framework. If a stable political system cannot be established, the people of the country will suffer,” he added.
President Wickremesinghe pointed out that he is working towards establishing a national policy to prepare an export economy using competitive and modern technology.
“We need an export-oriented economy that uses the most competitive technology,” he said
He claimed that the budget deficit was a factor that contributed to the collapse of the economy, citing the foreign exchange countries receive is not sufficient to meet the needs.
“Our economy must be rebuilt. If we are to succeed, we must remember one thing. We must earn the required foreign exchange. A deficit of foreign exchange cannot be maintained. It is not possible to maintain a budget deficit. Our aim should be to keep the surplus of the expenditure head. For this, we need to increase our foreign income,” he explained.
He also acknowledged that the establishment declared open yesterday was initiated by former President Maithripala Sirisena and Rajitha Senatatne was the Health Minister at that time.
“This is one result of the initiatives taken by the Good Governance regime. We worked in silence. Then the Government changed and a new Government was elected. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power this program was not halted.
“Generally, when one Government loses power and another one comes to power, the work done by the previous Government is halted. However, this project was not stopped and now I am declaring this establishment open as the President,” he added.
President Wickremesinghe also congratulated Yaden Laboratories Chairman Shashimal Dissanayake. “He is a farsighted individual. He had a good understanding of the drug shortage the country is facing. He also understood that the local market is insufficient. Therefore, this company has taken steps to develop our export industry, not only to supply medicines needed domestically but also by producing medicines needed internationally.
“We sincerely hope that this project commenced by this young entrepreneur will progress to greater heights. This project has created great employment opportunities for many. This investment has been done at a time when the country’s economy is facing its hardest period,” he added.
Yaden Laboratories Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company Chairman Shashimal Dissanayake said the firm has come a long way in the past 10 years. “This laboratory was started in 2012 by two people. Today, our laboratory can produce 100% high-quality medicines. This pharmaceutical laboratory has created history in Sri Lanka today.
“Currently, there are 110 laboratory staff and 20 technicians working here. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. This laboratory has been established with the primary objective of providing medicines needed by Sri Lankans. Accordingly, there is an opportunity to save a lot of the country’s money that would otherwise be spent on importing drugs.”
