Govt. to seek $52.5 Mn from treasury to purchase 10 Mn vaccines from India

22 February 2021 03:02 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A proposal will be submitted to cabinet today, to obtain a sum of 52.5 million US dollars from the treasury to purchase 10 million Astra Zeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute in India, the Daily Mirror learns.

An estimated 350,000 people, including front line workers, have been vaccinated

According to sources, the proposal will be submitted at the cabinet meeting which will be held later today and permission will be sought to obtain these funds as well as additional funds for the shipment of the vaccines, transportation, storage and other facilities from the treasury.

The cabinet will be informed that these 10 million vaccines will be utilized to vaccinate 5 million people, under the first phase, and once approval is granted, an agreement will be signed between the Serum Institute in India and the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Corporation who will procure the vaccines for Sri Lanka.

Further, the Daily Mirror learns that the government aims to vaccinate 14 million people who are listed under the priority groups,as soon as possible.

The government has in recent days, after opening out the vaccination programme to the public, inoculated an estimated 80,000 people while in total an estimated 350,000 people, including front line workers, have been vaccinated since the 500,000 doses of the COVISHIELD vaccines were donated by the Indian government in late January.

Sri Lanka is expecting a further 1.6 million vaccines of the Astra Zeneca variety under the WHO’S COVAX facility which will arrive in the country by the end of this month and will also soon sign an agreement to purchase a further 10 million doses from the Serum Institute in India once the funds are approved by cabinet. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

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Comments - 13

Jude Monday, 22 February 2021 07:07 AM

Very simple, issue another $1.5 Billion Sovereign Bond! Yeah, borrow from Peter to pay Paul Theory!!

RoaringCreek Monday, 22 February 2021 07:34 AM

These cost should have been included in the budget for 2021 and order placed in December 2020, like what most countries did. Now the people have to bear this extra burden.

Ranaweera Monday, 22 February 2021 08:15 AM

The list price of AstraZeneca vaccine is USD 4 per dose . How does 10 million cost USD 52.5 million. Generally, when you buy these , you should get a bulk discount too. Other vaccines are 3 to 4 times expensive.

Sokrates Monday, 22 February 2021 08:29 AM

Firstly, Sri Lanka does not have $ 52.5 million funds and secondly, one billion Indians have to be vaccinated and other countries that have long ordered before will get delivered, before it is Sri Lanka's turn. The incompetent Rajapaksa regime is to blame for this maladministration.

Jude Monday, 22 February 2021 09:06 AM

Good thing is MAJORITY of SRI lankans DON'T KNOW about financial matters like Souverign bonds!! Just to give you an IDEA, SL govt guaranteed issued bonds give close to 6% annual rate where' as American bonds give ONLY 0.59 % and LIBOR 5year rate is .71% So the global pension fund managers invest in SL bonds 'Coz IT'S rate of returns are significantly higher!!

Jude Monday, 22 February 2021 09:14 AM

The Treasury is empty like the POLITICIAN'S head!!

Jude Monday, 22 February 2021 09:17 AM

Just wait, need some time to borrow the money from China!! Yeah!!

Ethan Monday, 22 February 2021 09:53 AM

This is very important to get back to normal. Money should have been allocated in priority. But the problem is availability from India. It is going to take some time for India to allocate to Sri Lanka.

sanje Monday, 22 February 2021 09:58 AM

Brandix dint's pay ...?

Padma Monday, 22 February 2021 10:37 AM

$52m is nothing for a country like Sri Lanka. But question is how long before we receive these vaccines? Probably another 6 months because India has said its going to prioritize vaccines for its own people. Sri Lanka is so late in ordering. This should have been done last March.

DGee Monday, 22 February 2021 11:03 AM

If cost is $ 4 per dose, govt must explain the public how cost is $5.25 to clear doubts.

DilPerera Monday, 22 February 2021 12:17 PM

Last week acting health minister said 18 million vaccine dozes have already been ordered. Has he lied last week or is this 10 million in addition to said 18 million?

J Monday, 22 February 2021 05:41 PM

Commissions 20% to namal

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Govt. to seek $52.5 Mn from treasury to purchase 10 Mn vaccines from India

Comments - 13

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