Team Sri Lanka to be fully vaccinated for Tokyo 2020

By Susil Premalal

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has taken measures to ensure the Sri Lanka contingent for Tokyo 2020 will be fully vaccinated as per the Sri Lanka Government/WHO guidelines.

This includes all athletes, officials, journalists and VIPs travelling to enter Tokyo 2020 Olympic which begins on July 23. 

Chef de Mission Gamini Jayasinghe said that steps have already taken to ensure the full vaccination of athletes who have already qualified and immediate action will be taken for the other athletes etc. who are currently on qualifying tournaments and no one will be issued the accreditation without the vaccination card.
In line with their Japan counterpart, the NOCSL appointed Dr. Himan de Silva as the COVID-19 Liaison Officer (CLO) who will monitor all athletes/officials including the journalists that they follow stricter health guidelines issued by Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee in Sri Lanka and whilst in Tokyo.

The athletes and officials who are expected to take part as far as possible will be in 14 days ‘Bio-Secure Bubble’ and log their whereabouts to ensure that no one will be a Covid-19 carrier to and from Japan and they will be subjected to PCR testing at least three times prior to departure to Japan.

Jayasinghe further stated that on the request of NOC Sri Lanka the vaccination was made possible due to the timely intervention by the Army Commander General Shavendra Silva who is also the Chairman of COVID-19 Task Force in Sri Lanka.