India assures supplies of AstraZeneca vaccine to Sri Lanka contrary to media reports

India has assured that export of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines would continue, contrary to media reports. The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that the spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry set the record straight.

 The following is the text of a statement issued by the IHC, Colombo: “I would like to draw your attention to the response given by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India in New Delhi on 2 April 2021.  He very clearly said that the Government of India has not imposed any export ban on COVID-19 vaccines.  In fact, 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 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.