Zydus Lifesciences Partners Sunshine Healthcare in $20 Million Sri Lanka Pharma Venture.

Zydus Lifesciences and Sri Lanka-based Sunshine Healthcare have formed a joint venture to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka with an investment of more than $20 million, marking a significant step in the island nation's efforts to boost domestic drug production and reduce reliance on imports.

The joint venture, Zydus Sunshine Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., will set up the manufacturing facility on nearly four acres of land at the Board of Investment (BOI) zone in Horana. The foundation stone for the project was laid recently.

The facility will manufacture pharmaceutical products for Sri Lanka's retail market, with the objective of improving access to quality medicines, enhancing supply chain resilience, and reducing the country's dependence on imported drugs.

The partnership combines Zydus Lifesciences' pharmaceutical manufacturing and technical expertise with Sunshine Healthcare's established local market presence and healthcare distribution network. The companies said the venture will facilitate technology transfer, strengthen Sri Lanka's pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, and create skilled employment opportunities.

The project aligns with Sri Lanka's strategy to expand domestic manufacturing in critical sectors. By increasing local pharmaceutical production capacity, the joint venture is expected to improve the availability and affordability of medicines while strengthening the country's long-term healthcare security.