The 48th commemorative ceremony of Professor Senaka Bibile, the pioneer of Sri Lanka’s national pharmaceutical policy, was held in Colombo under the patronage of Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
The event was organized by the Senaka Bibile Commemoration Organization, with its chairman, Consultant Physician Dr. Ajith Kumara, outlining the purpose of the program.
Prof. Bibile, who graduated from the Colombo Medical College in 1945 with an MBBS degree with First Class Honours, also won the prestigious Gold Medal for Medicine and Surgery. From 1967 to 1977, he served as the first Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Peradeniya, where he was instrumental in establishing the country’s first medical education unit.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Jayatissa recalled that between 1971 and 1976, when Prof. Bibile established the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation and served as its Chairman, he faced numerous challenges. The Corporation was dedicated to ensuring a continuous supply of essential, high-quality medicines to the public at affordable prices.
The Minister further noted that even today, there are attempts to undermine the system that Prof. Bibile pioneered, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding his vision of accessible and affordable healthcare for all Sri Lankans.
