Second batch of vaccines from Serum Institute due in two weeks

The second consignment of 500,000 COVISHIELD vaccines from the Serum Institute of India is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka within the next two weeks, Principal Advisor to the President and the Chief of the Presidential Task Force on the Procurement of COVID Vaccine, Lalith Weeratunga said today.

Speaking at a public forum, he said Sri Lanka had made a payment for 1.5 million doses of COVISHIELD vaccine.

“The first consignment of 500,000 vaccines donated to Sri Lanka was delivered on January 28. This was donated mainly due to the request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” Weeratunga said.

“The vaccines manufactured in the Serum Institute of India can’t be exported haphazardly, but it requires an export permit. This export permit is given to the countries endorsed by the Government of India. We were fortunate to receive the permission,” he underlined.

“According to the information we have received, the second batch of vaccines is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka within two weeks under the intervention of the Government of India,” Weeratunga added.(Sheain Fernandopulle)