The Government of China donated another consignment of 1.6 million doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka. The two SriLankan Airlines flights UL869 and UL865 carrying the vaccines arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake at 5.30 a.m., today (27).
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong officially handed over the vaccines to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, today (27). In addition to these vaccines, a stock of syringes has also been donated. The vaccines were handed over to the Ministry of Health to be given to people over the age of 30 in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. 72% of the vaccines used in the vaccination process in Sri Lanka are Sinopharm.
President Rajapaksa said that he highly appreciated the support provided by the Chinese Government for the control of COVID – 19 by donating 600,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines on March 31, 500,000 on May 26 and 1.6 million doses that were received today.
The President pointed out that by the end of August, all those over the age of 30 will be vaccinated and the activities of the tourism industry will be able to commence from September. Therefore, the Chinese people are invited to visit Sri Lanka again, the President further said.
Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Senior Advisor to President Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage, and the Political Officer of the Chinese Embassy Luo Chong were also present on the occasion.