It said vaccine supplies had taken place in many countries in various regions of the world, referring to a statement made by the External Affairs Ministry on the second of April.
Sri Lanka is among 80 countries to which a total of over 64 million doses of COVID 19 vaccines made in India have been supplied, as a bilateral gift, through the COVAX facility and on commercial orders, many of which were placed last year. No country has shared with the world COVID 19 vaccines in such a large quantity while vaccinating its population, the statement said.
The statement further said
“Arrival of duly approved AstraZeneca COVID 19 vaccines as a gift from India in January this year enabled vaccination against the dreaded pandemic in Sri Lanka begin ahead of earlier plans. As a close friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India ensured that the people of Sri Lanka start benefitting from India’s global prowess in vaccine production within days of the launch of the COVID 19 vaccination in India itself.
More than 1.25 million doses of made-in-India COVISHIELD vaccine have so far been delivered, to Sri Lanka. Production of COVID 19 vaccines in India is being ramped up further to meet the domestic requirement and global demand.”
