3 April 2021 12:02 am
By Kelum Bandara
Sri Lanka engaged India through the diplomatic channel to secure the ordered consignment of doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to continue the mass roll-out in the country without any interruption, a Minister said yesterday.
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana told Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka ordered 1.5 million doses, and 500,000 had been delivered before the Serum Institute of India, the manufacturer of the vaccine, suspended exports due to local demand pressure. The Minister said Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, in his regular meeting with Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay discussed the matter. Prof. Jayasumana said Sri Lanka expected that the delivery would be ensured soon.
“We have not suspended the vaccination drive,” he said.
Besides, he said the regulatory clearance for Sinopharm vaccine manufactured by China could be given soon.
Also, Sri Lanka had placed orders for SputnikV vaccine from Russia to be given to 1.4 million people. Russia will send 20,000 doses for the vaccination initiation process.