Govt. expects to vaccinate entire population by early 2022: Shavendra

Government expects to vaccinate the entire population from Covid-19 by the end of 2021 to early 2022, Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

He said that Sri Lanka’s major development projects and infrastructure projects were not delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic while the health and safety of the workers too had not been compromised.

Addressing the virtual on-line sessions at the Sri Lanka Investment Forum (SLIF), General Silva said on Tuesday that Sri Lanka’s pandemic management strategy included the uninterrupted running of industries, factories, export agencies and international businesses, where the employees had been assured to work amidst the pandemic with all necessary healthcare precautions and associated facilities.

“This has been the strength of Sri Lanka so far,” the Commander said.

He said although the COVID19 pandemic had disturbed the entire livelihood of the world, It was necessary to maintain economic, diplomatic, and social relationships with the world.“managing the pandemic, preserving the economy, and restoring complete normalcy is an enormous challenge,” he added.

“In order to reinstate the economic normalcy, usual livelihood and social aspects amidst COVID- 19 pandemic, it is decisive to bring the country into a certain condition in which socio-economic activities could be continued with the best practices under minimum regulations,” he said.