Sri Lanka is expecting the delivery of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines by mid-February, said a state minister on Friday. The government plans to roll out vaccines at around 4000 places in the country, as per a report on Colombo Page.

The arrangements are being made to provide the people of Sri Lanka with Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccines to control coronavirus infections from the middle of the next month (February), said Dr. Sudarsini Farnandopulle, the state minister of primary health care, Epidemics, and Covid disease control.

The minister also asked the doctors, health care professionals, medical officers for their assistance to make Sri Lanka’s vaccination program a success.

Recently, Sri Lankan President wrote a letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping for his assistance in securing vaccines for Sri Lanka. Prior to that, the president asked Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishanakar for the early provision of vaccines to his nation.

Last week, during his three-day visit to Sri Lanka,  Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured Sri Lanka of the delivery of vaccines on a priority basis.