Authorities in Sri Lanka will administer the Chinese-made Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines first to Chinese nationals living in the country. The decision was taken after the Sri Lankan government received a request for the priority vaccination to Chinese nationals from China. 

The Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine to be given to Sri Lanka will be first administered to Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka at the request of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the Sri Lankan health minister quoted as saying by Colombopage. 

China had earlier announced donating 6,00,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines and had also asked the Sri Lankan drugs regulator to grant approval to its vaccine. The drug regulator on Saturday gave emergency use approval to the Sinopharm vaccine. 

Health experts in the country advised the government to diversify vaccine usage, especially since the Covishied vaccine was in short supply from India.