Government of India says they have not imposed any export ban on COVID-19 vaccines . Responding the queries from local media the Spokesman of Indian High Commission of Colombo stated that supplies to many countries in various regions of the world have taken place last week also.
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 bilateral gift, through COVAX facility and on commercial orders many of which were placed last year. No any other country has shared with the world COVID 19 vaccines in such a large quantity while vaccinating its own population.
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 launch of 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 domestic requirement and global demand.
Supply of COVID 19 vaccines by India under VaccineMaitri embodies India’s abiding commitment to utilize its globally renowned vaccine manufacturing capacities in fighting COVID 19 pandemic for larger global good.”
