A national policy on drugs has been the subject of intense discussions in the past, but Sri Lanka has yet to formulate such a policy. Reports suggest the infiltration of substandard or counterfeit drugs and non-availability of medicines for common ailments. The absence of a policy results in problems such as delays in the registration of drugs, lack of quality control, mismatch between demand and supply, irrational drug use, inconsistent pricing policies and weak administration within the drug control agency. This publication looks at elements of a national policy based largely on the recommendations of the World Health Organization and considers the type of policy options best suited for Sri Lanka, to ensure the availability of good quality medicines, at affordable prices. The discussion is intended to provide the basis for a meaningful dialogue among all concerned parties that would result in the formulation of a truly national policy.