3 August 2021 12:04 am Views - 157
The Japanese Ambassador made this remark while officially handing over the stock of AstraZeneca, which was brought down to Sri Lanka last Saturday (July 31), to the President at the Presidential Secretariat last morning.
Mr. Sugiyama added that the Japanese Prime Minister decided to provide 1.456 million doses of the vaccine to Sri Lanka after paying special attention to the President’s personal request to the Prime Minister to fulfil the need for the second dose of AstraZeneca in Sri Lanka, and in recognition of long-standing friendship between the two countries.
The first consignment of 728,460 vaccine doses was sent to the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake by SriLankan Airlines flight UL-455. The administering of AstraZeneca second dose began at 20 selected centres in the Western Province on Sunday.
The Japanese Ambassador and the Country Representatives of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF commended the entire vaccination programme in Sri Lanka, the commencement of the vaccination drive within a few hours of receiving the vaccine consignment, and the President’s direct involvement, guidance and leadership in the vaccination programme.
The President expressed special thanks to the Japanese Prime Minister, the Government of Japan and the Ambassador of Japan on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, for donating the stock of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, in response to a request made by him personally to the Prime Minister of Japan last May.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Representative in Sri Lanka, Dr Alaka Singh, UNICEF Representative Emma Brigham, the First Secretary to the Embassy of Japan, Chiharu Hoshiai, Second Secretary Seiya Ninomiya, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Senior Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage were also present.