Japan has agreed to provide 600,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine to Sri Lanka, which the latter needed desperately to administer the second dose of the vaccine to people who already got the first jab. 

Sugiyama Akira, Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, on Wednesday morning, held a meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after which the government released a statement, confirmed that Japan would provide the vaccine. However, details regarding the delivery of vaccines yet to be worked out. 

In the statement released today, the Sri Lankan president’s office stated, “Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had responded positively to a request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the vaccine. 

For some weeks now, Sri Lanka had been desperately looking for 600,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine for the second jab. The Serum Institute of India, which had early provided vaccines to Colombo, expressed its inability to supply vaccines any time soon as the Indian government restricted the export of vaccines. 

Last week, Gotabaya had instructed officials to arrange 600,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca at any cost. 

Earlier, Sri Lankan authorities had been in touch with several private players who were claiming to have stock of AstraZeneca vaccines and ready to sell them at a higher price. However, AstraZeneca firm has warned the government against purchasing its vaccine from private companies, saying these vaccines are likely “counterfeit”. It also added that such offers should be refused. 

 (SAM)