Sri Lanka, July 29 -- Sri Lanka's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is pushing to evolve from an import-substitution model into a multi-billion dollar export engine, eyeing a slice of the US$ 1.8 trillion global market.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (SLPMA) held in Colombo this week, industry leaders outlined a bold vision to transform the sector into the country's next thrust industry. By capitalising on an abundant pool of high-quality science graduates and strategic regional proximity, manufacturers believe Sri Lanka can carve out a highly specialized, globally competitive export niche.

A central pillar of this ambition relies on harnessing the talent generated b...