En Route to placing Sri Lanka on the World Map for Medical Equipment Manufacturing
Mr.Harin De Silva is a multifaceted entrepreneur who started his journey as an engineer who has always dreamt of building a business of innovation. Today he has come a long way from being a trainee engineer in the UK to designing the world’s first smart Petri dish. His story is one of resilience, creativity, and courage.
Mr.Harin De Silva entered the medical equipment manufacturing business by designing and building a heated glass stage for Origio based in Denmark (now a CooperSurgical Company). Developed in his very home, this paved the way for VeroxLabs; a specialised medical device design and manufacturing business founded in 2018.
Addressing a global need
VeroxLabs designs, manufactures, and markets laboratory equipment for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Research Laboratories and has developed a range of equipment that is exported to various global markets. They assist in the process of gifting life to many families who struggle to conceive due to the many challenges of the modern world, which has become a global issue. Mr. De Silva refers to how the stigma attached to the subject, especially in countries like Sri Lanka compels many to suffer in silence and how innovations like his assist the relevant field of medicine to help relieve this struggle.
Relationships par excellence
Mr. Harin De Silva believes in the power of networking and making strong friendships, some of whom have become his business partners today. He also remembers TOS Lanka and Mr. Merrick Gooneratne with grateful fondness, whose support has been invaluable to the VeroxLabs journey. Today VeroxLabs has another partner, Dr. Lars Johnsen identifies the design house as an innovative organisation that offers an outstanding value proposition, without compromising on quality or reliability.
Mr. Harin De Silva says he was motivated by three reasons to move his business to Sri Lanka. The first being the ability to produce products of high quality and value at an effective cost. Second being the huge talent pool that Mr, De Silva believes consists of pure genius and the third, the urge to serve Sri Lanka.
In this endeavour, he credits the EDB for the unwavering support that was extended since the company’s inception, including the assistance provided in interacting with the Inland Revenue and Sri Lanka Customs. Mr. De Silva states that the EDB has been a great source of guidance and assistance in overcoming the unique challenges that VeroxLabs experienced, especially as an organisation conducting Research and Development. VeroxLabs also works closely with the local universities, especially University of Moratuwa and University of Peradeniya and has provided several internship opportunities for graduates from these universities.
Global Aspirations - Local Inspiration
VeroxLabs takes pride in all its products. Among the significant developments of VeroxLabs is a VOC filter, which is claimed to be the best in the world. Designed and developed for an organisation based in the USA, local companies are subcontracted by VeroxLabs to carry out the manufacturing. Among the lab’s most prized innovations is a unique, highly price-competitive, high accuracy thermometer that is currently being manufactured for Israel, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Denmark, Sweden, and potential clients in the USA. The VeroxLabs are currently working on developing the World’s First Smart Petri Dish (Metrum Saksi), with exclusive rights to the technology that has been developed in Europe.
Mr. De Silva says that VeroxLabs is on route to putting Sri Lanka on the world map for medical devices. The success in the initial phases of the designing of world’s first smart Petri dish that has the ability to non-invasively identify and measure the temperature inside the Petri dish and track the same within a laboratory environment; a technology that has piqued the interest of many global giants in the medical industry. Going forward Mr. Harin De Silva expects to partner with competent local manufacturers as the R&D and design arm for medical equipment development utilising globally disruptive technologies. He also has his eyes set on building a prototyping centre and developing a venture targeted focused on reproductive tourism along with an IVF treatment and education centre by partnering with experts of the industry of global repute.
