Sunshine Holdings celebrates 45th anniversary

SBL a Sunshine Holdings enterprise, one of the premier business ventures in the healthcare sector, reached a significant landmark in its history when the company celebrated its 45th anniversary recently. With its beginnings tracing back to 1967, SBL, formerly known as Lanka Medicals, was the oldest business venture of the Sunshine Holdings Group, which was founded by G. Sathasivam.

During its 45-year journey, the company has successfully expanded its scope of operations achieving remarkable success while contributing significantly to the country's healthcare industry. SBL is the partner of choice for international healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Sri Lanka, in the areas of pharmaceuticals, surgicals, diagnostics, medical devices and consumer health products. SBL is a leading market expansion services provider, with the largest specialized healthcare team, with over 300 medical marketing and sales personnel and over 200 physical distribution personnel in their employ.

To mark its 45th anniversary, SBL donated 500 lenses for cataract operations to the National Secretariat's 'Vision 2020' programme through Dr. P G Mahipala, Additional Secretary, Medical Supplies, Ministry of Health, supporting this national programme for prevention and control of avoidable blindness.The company also had a felicitation ceremony for its long serving employees and key customers, at an event held at a hotel in Colombo recently. Key customers recognized at the event were across all major private sector hospital groups, Government sector institutions, key national retailers and the company's longstanding international healthcare partners. Sunshine Holdings PLC, Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy, graced the event along with the company's founder, G Sathasivam and other board directors.

Sunshine Holdings, through SBL, has rendered an immense service to the healthcare sector of Sri Lanka, broadening the dimensions of its various aspects. It has emerged as one of the largest private sector companies in the Sri Lankan pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and surgical accessories segments. Speaking at the event the Associate Director of SBL, Shyam Sathasivam said "since its inception, SBL has provided the best healthcare products to its customers and has been widely recognized as one of the most admired healthcare products marketing companies in Sri Lanka". He went on to state that "the company's vision is to be the most admired healthcare marketing company in Sri Lanka and we hope to achieve this by providing our customers with the best healthcare products through our people and partners."

SBL offers the healthcare industry a broad range of customized services from registration to importation, customs clearance, sales, marketing and merchandising, warehousing, physical distribution, invoicing and cash collection. Some of their international healthcare partners are Abbott Laboratories, Zydus Cadila, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson Medical, 3M Healthcare, GE Healthcare and Siemens Diagnostics.

SBL has worked in partnership with leading healthcare companies across the world for more than three decades; the company has grown to become a top national player, marketing over 1,000 products from over 40 multinational organizations to more than 3,000 general practitioners, specialists, surgeons and associated healthcare professionals. The company's distribution chain covers the entire country, supplying products to over 300 hospitals and clinics and 2,000 pharmacies through twelve regional distribution centres.

Healthguard Pharmacy Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of SBL, has established a network of 16 pharmacies across the Western Province over the last six years. Their modern pharmacy brand, offering a range of pharmaceuticals, wellness and beauty products has set the benchmark in healthcare retailing in the country. Healthguard Pharmacies are fully compliant with CDDA regulations with full time pharmacists on call at all times and proper storage conditions for all medicines and cosmetics, thereby assuring all customers of quality products, superior service and convenient locations.

Sunshine Holdings PLC, the parent company of SBL, is a diversified holding company, with interests in Healthcare, Plantations, FMCG, Packaging, Travel & Leisure and Renewable Energy. The Group, which has over 13,000 employees and has generated approximately US $ 100 million in revenue, is consistently ranked amongst the LMD Top 50 companies in Sri Lanka. Group companies include Swiss Biogenics Ltd, Watawala Plantations PLC, Watawala Marketing Ltd, Sunshine Packaging, Sunshine Travels and Tours, Sunshine Power and Healthguard Pharmacy.