• No party should do politics at this hour 
• No decision on booster shots yet 

By Kelum Bandara 

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana said the countries with advanced medical care such as the United States and the United Kingdom had not been spared by the Delta variant which hit the globe like a huge tornado, and asked how Sri Lanka alone could be safe. 

Delivering his remarks to Daily Mirror, the Minister said nobody should politicise the situation since this was a pandemic to be grappled with by any government. “This is an unexpected phenomena that cannot be avoided by whatever party in power. Therefore, it is unreasonable for the opposition to play politics at this hour,” he said. Asserting that mass inoculation is the best protection against COVID-19, he said people should take every possible precaution to bring transmission down.

He said the daily intake of Vitamin C- either artificial or natural - hot tea or coriander without sugar would entail health benefits. Asked about booster COVID-19 shots, he said the government would prioritise full vaccination of people first. “We have not decided on giving booster shots yet. If we decide, it will be for frontline workers,” he said.