Premium International, Sri Lanka’s only turnkey healthcare solutions provider, celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Cinnamon Life Hotel recently, in the presence of senior leadership, staff and stakeholders. Over the past two decades, the company has redefined the healthcare sector and successfully positioned itself as a trailblazer in delivering integrated solutions that combine innovation, resilience and unmatched expertise.
Chairman and the Managing Director, Prasantha Kularatna remarked, “Premium International was founded with the vision of transforming healthcare in Sri Lanka. Over the past 20 years, we have responded to various crises and pioneered projects that have redefined the standards of care and infrastructure in the country. We are proud of the trust we have earned, the innovation we have driven and the lives we have saved,” reflecting on the company’s illustrious journey over two decades.
Premium International began its journey in 2004 amidst the devastating tsunami that left the nation’s healthcare system in ruins. While hospitals were destroyed, equipment from international donors arrived but remained unusable due to a lack of infrastructure. Premium International stepped in as a vital engineering bridge between the donors and local healthcare facilities, going beyond the supply of equipment to rebuilding essential infrastructure. This marked the beginning of the company’s role as a market leader in turnkey healthcare solutions.
In 2007, Premium International spearheaded a nationwide medical technology upgrade project that modernised 24 hospitals across Sri Lanka. Funded by Austria, this ambitious initiative introduced advanced technologies such as CT scanners, digital X-rays, video endoscopy systems, ventilators and emergency backup power generators, laying a foundation for enhanced healthcare services. Five years later, in 2012, the company raised the standard of cardiac care in Sri Lanka by modernising catheterisation labs at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, equipping them with state-of-the-art cath labs and echo-Doppler units.
Premium’s impact further extended to the nation’s blood banks in 2014, when the company executed a landmark project that transformed the role of these facilities. By establishing 19 regional centres and equipping 96 blood banks with cutting-edge technology, the EUR 25 million project elevated blood storage and transfusion standards, ensuring greater efficiency and reliability in saving lives.
A key differentiator for Premium International is its commitment to innovation and local capacity building. Reflecting this, in 2012, the company partnered with the University of Moratuwa (UoM) to establish Sri Lanka’s first biomedical research and development laboratory, paving the way for the country’s first biomedical engineering degree programme while fostering local expertise in healthcare technology. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Premium once again demonstrated its market leadership and innovation by designing and donating a modular ICU unit. Transportable and operational within 24 hours, the unit provided a critical lifeline during the crisis and gained recognition both locally and internationally.
The company’s achievements in infrastructure development are equally remarkable. Premium played a pivotal role in completing South Asia’s largest maternity hospital, the German-Sri Lanka Friendship Hospital for Women. When construction delays and challenges had stalled the project for over a decade, Premium stepped in to complete it within mere 24 months. Beyond construction, the company supplied and commissioned more than 65% of the hospital’s medical, laboratory and industrial equipment. The central facilities, including the CSSD, laundry and kitchen, were equipped with the most advanced technology available, making the hospital a benchmark for modern healthcare infrastructure in Sri Lanka.
Through exclusive partnerships with globally renowned healthcare brands, Premium International has consistently introduced groundbreaking technologies to Sri Lanka. Sakura histopathology systems now enable 80% of cancer detection and diagnosis in the country, while Fujifilm and Erbe provide the most advanced endoscopy platforms for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Blood collection and processing have been revolutionised by German and American technologies from Fresenius Kabi, Hettich and Werfen, which ensure that over 95% of collected blood is processed daily.
Additionally, over 300 operating theatres rely on Shinva’s cutting-edge infection control solutions, operating around the clock to meet the country’s critical healthcare demands.
Premium International’s contributions extend to the pharmaceutical sector where it has driven advancements in local production. Initially supporting the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) with technology, the company later took on the challenge of constructing Sri Lanka’s most advanced private-sector aseptic pharmaceutical plant in collaboration with LAUGFS Holdings. In 2023, Premium launched its own pharmaceutical production facility “Seregen” in partnership with George Steuart, marking a significant step towards greater pharmaceutical independence in Sri Lanka.
As it celebrates two decades of excellence, Premium International remains committed to shaping the future of healthcare in Sri Lanka.
