Sri Lanka is in discussion with several countries including Indonesia to get 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine for the purpose of administering  as the second dose, Daily Mirror said.

The Sri Lankan government was forced to turn to these countries after India’s Serum Institute of India failed in its commitment to supply the vaccine to the island nation.

The Indian government had banned export of the vaccine after the country was massively hit by an ongoing second wave of the Coronavirus infection.

This inconvenienced the Sri Lankan people, as many of them had taken their first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

 Sri Lanka Health Minister Channa Jayasumana told parliament the government was optimistic about receiving a positive response to its request.

The minister disclosed that 139,786 citizens have been given the second jab using AstraZeneca vaccine so far.

While refuting claims about the shortage of oxygen required to treat COVID patients, he said there was a shortage of oxygen cylinders and steps were being taken to provide liquid oxygen as an alternative.

"We have provided liquid oxygen tanks to 28 Hospitals. Steps have been taken to provide oxygen tanks to 12 more hospitals within the next couple of weeks,” he said.

The minister also said the government has had discussions with Singapore to get liquid oxygen, if required.