Sri Lanka targets 65% by year-end

Sri Lanka hopes to vaccinate 65% of the target population by the end of this year, a top official said.

Presidential advisor Lalith Weeratunga said that the vaccination of frontline workers which commenced in Colombo was only the beginning of a major programme.

“This is only the beginning. I am sure a day will come where we can say our population is fully vaccinated and that we have won this war against the unseen enemy,” he said.

Weeratunga was speaking at the Angoda Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) at the official launch of the Covid vaccination programme using vaccines gifted by India. Weeratunga said that the government has set a target of vaccinating 65% of the population in Sri Lanka by the end of the year.

He said that the vaccination programme strictly follows a priority list designed by the health authorities.

“There is no favouritsm. It’s for those who qualify to get this vaccine and that we will strictly adhere to,” he said.

Weeratunga also thanked

India for the vaccines and reiterated the support offered by India during the war on terror and now in the war against the coronavirus.

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay congratulated Sri Lanka on the vaccination programme.

The High Commissioner said that he hoped the vaccination programme would help Sri Lanka get back on its feet.

Baglay said that the policy of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was neighborhood first.

He also said that Sri Lanka occupied a very important place in the hearts of India.(EASWARAN RUTNAM)