India assured Sri Lanka of Covid vaccines, saying the country will give priority to Sri Lanka when it will start supplying it to other nations. Similar requests have earlier been made by Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. 

The assurance came during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Sri Lanka. During a meeting with Jainshankar on Wednesday morning, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapakshe conveyed his country’s desire to procure vaccines from India. 

A statement released by Sri Lanka’s Office of the President, says, “Dr. Jaishankar agreed to give priority to Sri Lanka when his country begins exporting the vaccine to other countries.”

India regulators approved the two vaccines for use. One is the Oxford vaccine which is being produced by Serum institute in India and another is Covishied produced by Bharat Biotech.|

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali is also visiting India on 14 January. Reports in Nepal media say he would make a formal request to India for the vaccine during his visit. A similar request also came from the Bhutan government. 

Reports in Indian media suggest Bangladesh is likely to be the first nation to receive Indian manufactured vaccines.