Sri Lankan players are not prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination-Prof. Arjuna de Silva

BY BIPIN D ANI

Sri Lankan cricketers are not on a priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Health Ministry sources. “No, they are not prioritised,” a source, also attached with the Sports Ministry, said.

Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Chairman of the medical panel of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) when inquired from, said, “If there is enough vaccines to go around, yes, it will be given to the players. But I believe that front line healthcare workers should be vaccinated before the players.” “After the healthcare workers we can consider players. Healthcare workers come first then elderly cricketers will come lower down in priority”. Incidentally, only two Sri Lankan cricketers (Binura Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne) tested positive for COVID-19 so far. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, are considering arranging vaccination of their players. BCB president Nazmul Hassan is also the Chief Executive of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, which has signed a deal to procure 30 million vaccine doses from India for the Bangladesh government. “In Sri Lanka we do things differently. Vaccination must be earned, not bought,” Prof. de Silva said.