GSK starts work on landmark Rs. 200 m production plant investment

Marking yet another milestone in its corporate history, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare - Sri Lanka, (GSK), yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to Sri Lanka and its economy, by laying the foundation stone for a new local Panadol production plant to be built with an investment of Rs. 200 million.

The new facility will be located adjacent to its present pharmaceutical operation in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, which has been in place for more than 50 years. GSK is the marketers of Panadol, a brand of paracetamol and other trusted household brands.

Since early 1930s, when GSK began trading in Sri Lanka, the company has continued to build up a reputation as a trusted household brand and provide a source of credible revenue to the state, in addition to the provision of significant scale employment. The company’s brands and activities stand true to the company mission of improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Chief guest at the foundation laying ceremony Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said: “GSK is a multinational corporation that has been functioning in Sri Lanka for over 70 years. Today this investment from GSK, should act as a symbol of their faith in our country. It will also help provide medicine security within the country.  I strongly urge all other multinationals to further invest in our country and help Sri Lanka usher in an era of economic and social prosperity.”

Commenting at the foundation laying ceremony, Sachi Thomas, Managing Director of GSK Consumer Healthcare – Sri Lanka said “At a time when Sri Lanka is on the verge of an economic renaissance, GSK is indeed proud to further extend its Heritage of Trust and commitment to Sri Lanka by commissioning this plant in 2012. With the commencement of local production of Panadol, the consumer and the state are set to benefit, as a result of a consistently secure source of essential medicines.”

The new Panadol Production plant, due to be operational by February of 2012, will strictly comply to GMPs and will encompass the broad scope of work that goes into manufacturing Panadol OTC products. As with all GSK products, this new plant will meet GSK’s stringent global, quality control standards. This investment is in addition to the Rs. 200 m outlay undertaken by GSK in upgrading its laboratory, manufacturing and infrastructure facilities over the last five years.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare – Sri Lanka is part of GlaxoSmithKline PLC. – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies that is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. After 2001 GSK Sri Lanka functions as GSK Consumer Healthcare and GSK Pharmaceuticals and Global Manufacturing & Supplies. In Sri Lanka, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is responsible for the manufacturing, retailing and distribution of trusted household brands Panadol, Iodex, Haliborange, Sensodyne, Lucozade, Viva and Horlicks.