The Government of China has donated a batch of 1.6 million more doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka, says the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Two SriLankan Airlines flights, UL869 and UL865, carrying the vaccine consignment arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake at this morning (July 27).

The Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong officially handed over the vaccines to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.

In addition to these vaccines, a stock of cylinders was also donated by the Chinese government.

The vaccines have been handed over to the Ministry of Health to be administered to people over the age of 30 years in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The PMD noted that 72% of the vaccines used in the vaccination process in Sri Lanka is Sinopharm.

President Rajapaksa has expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the Government of China for the control of COVID-19 by donating three batches of Sinopharm vaccines; 600,000 doses on March 31, another 500,000 on May 26 and 1.6 million doses today.

The President has pointed out that by the end of August, all those over the age of 30 in the country will be vaccinated. Stating that the activities of the tourism industry are expected to resume from September, President Rajapaksa went on to invite the people of China to visit Sri Lanka again.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Fisheries Douglas Devananda, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Senior Advisor to President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage, and the Political Officer of the Chinese Embassy Luo Chong was also present on the occasion.

Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine, also known as BBIBP-CorV, is produced by China National Biotec Group (CNBG) – a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (SINOPHARM).

Captured by: Shan Fernando