High Commissioner of India, H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha paid a courtesy call on Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition of Sri Lanka, Hon’ble Nimal Sripala de Silva on 2 December 2009.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner expressed his appreciation for the support extended by the Minister and his Ministry on various projects being implemented by the Government of India in Sri Lanka. Particular mention was made of the services rendered by a team of Indian doctors who set up an Emergency Medical Unit at Pulmoddai in March 2009, and later in April 2009 at the Menik Farms in Vavuniya to look after the medical needs of the idPs.

The High Commissioner also referred to close cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the pharmaceuticals sector. He informed the Minister that this sector had become a major growth area and was regarded as one of the “sunrise” industries in India. In recent years, several Indian pharmaceutical companies had acquired a global presence and footprint indicating the industry’s growing strength. The High Commissioner added that Government of India attached high importance to maintaining stringent quality controls and standards in this sector, and had set up robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure that this was maintained equally in case of products meant for domestic consumption as well as for exports.

In this context, the High Commissioner referred to the recent ban imposed by the Government of Sri Lanka on some Indian pharmaceutical companies and noted that Indian companies had been the largest suppliers of pharmaceutical products to Sri Lanka and had an established their presence in the market over the last many years. There had been no complaints earlier regarding the quality and standards of supply by these companies. In light of this, the High Commissioner requested the Hon’ble Minister to review the ban imposed by Government of Sri Lanka recently and assured him that the relevant Indian companies will cooperate with the Sri Lankan government in all possible ways desired for a satisfactory redressal of alleged lapses. The High Commissioner also suggested that a visit of an Indian pharmaceutical delegation take place to Sri Lanka to discuss these issues and to create appropriate long term bilateral mechanisms with relevant Sri Lankan authorities. The delegation could also discuss possibilities of investments in this sector in Sri Lanka. The Hon’ble Minister welcomed the suggestion of the High Commissioner and agreed to receive the Indian delegation.

Colombo