Zydus Lifesciences Ltd and Sunshine Healthcare have entered into a strategic joint venture to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s domestic pharmaceutical production and reducing reliance on imported medicines. The new entity, Zydus Sunshine Lifesciences Pvt Ltd, will invest more than USD 20 million in setting up the manufacturing plant at the Board of Investment (BOI) Zone in Horana. Spread across nearly four acres, the facility will manufacture a range of pharmaceutical products for Sri Lanka’s retail market. The foundation stone for the project was laid today, formally launching construction.
The partnership brings together Zydus Lifesciences’ global manufacturing expertise and technical capabilities with Sunshine Healthcare’s established presence in Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector and distribution network. The venture is expected to facilitate technology transfer, strengthen local manufacturing capabilities, generate skilled employment, and contribute to the long-term development of Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical industry.
The project aligns with Sri Lanka’s efforts to expand domestic manufacturing in essential sectors and improve healthcare security. By producing medicines locally, the venture aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, improve product availability, and make quality medicines more accessible and affordable for patients across the country.
Commenting on the development, Dr Sharvil P Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd, said, “Strong local manufacturing capabilities are essential for building resilient healthcare systems. Our partnership with Sunshine Healthcare combines international manufacturing expertise with deep local market understanding to create sustainable pharmaceutical capacity that will support Sri Lanka’s healthcare needs for years to come.”
Shyam Sathasivam, Group CEO, Sunshine Holdings PLC, said, “This investment reflects our long-term commitment to Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector. Together with Zydus, we will expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing, create high-quality employment opportunities, and improve access to essential medicines while supporting the country’s industrial growth.”
The facility will operate under the oversight of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, with the Ministry of Health and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) serving as key regulatory stakeholders. All products manufactured at the facility will comply with applicable NMRA quality standards and pricing regulations.
Zydus Lifesciences is a global life sciences company with operations spanning formulations, active pharmaceutical ingredients, biologics, vaccines, diagnostics, medical technology, animal healthcare, and consumer wellness. Sunshine Healthcare is among Sri Lanka’s leading integrated healthcare companies, with businesses covering pharmaceutical distribution, retail pharmacy, manufacturing, medical devices, and healthcare services.
