Health Ministry’s approval for local company ISOLEZ BIOTECH PHARMA AG to start vaccine production at their factory built in Katunayake delayed for seven years, the sources said.
The investor has also sent a letter to former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa seeking permission to start production.
Accordingly, the former president has informed Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to conduct an investigation on this.
The Health Minister has also informed the National Drug Regulatory Authority to start investigations.
The investment for this vaccine production factory, which started construction in 2012, is LKR 400 million. Swiss technology is capable of producing all types of anti-cancer vaccines.
The factory is also equipped to manufacture all vaccines through biotechnology. Although the National Drug Regulatory Authority has observed the factory in 2013, it is a problem that they are not allowed to start production.
The Ministry of Health spends an amount of 75 million rupees annually to import drugs to Sri Lanka.
It is the responsibility of the National Drug Regulatory Authority to approve this factory located in Katunayake to support the government’s decision to reduce imports to 35% by manufacturing drugs locally, a spokesman said.