The Sri Lankan government is reportedly in touch with Indian officials to seek urgent export of around one million doses of Covishield vaccines from India for the second phase of its vaccination drive, reported Daily Mirror. 

Reports say the Sri Lankan government approached India after the Serum Institute of India (SII) failed to deliver its promised consignment of one million doses by April. This came after India restricted exports given the sudden spikes of the Covid-19 cases in the country. It is now reporting over 200,000 cases each day. 

Sri Lanka needs one million doses to complete the second round of vaccinations to inoculate its people, including health workers who have got their doses in the Western province.

Media reports say the SII is unlikely to supply vaccines for the next two months, given its urgent domestic commitments in India. Earlier, it has promised to supply 500,000 doses each in April and May. 

The supply of Russia’s Sputnik V has also been delayed as the Sri Lankan authority demanded the label in the vaccines should be in English. So far, Sri Lanka has not given emergency use approval to Chinese Sinopharm vaccines.