• The Japanese government has also agreed to provide medical supplies and healthcare equipment
• It is still unclear as to what price Sri Lanka would pay for these vaccines 

By Jamila Husain

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has responded positively to a request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to supply 600,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccines to Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry, the President’s office said today.   

During discussions held between President Rajapaksa and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sugiyama Akira at the Presidential Secretariat, the Ambassador said the Japanese Premier had responded positively to Rajapaksa’s request and the Daily Mirror learns further details would be worked out soon.  The Japanese government has also acceded to the President’s request to provide medical supplies and healthcare equipment needed to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus, the President’s office said while during the discussions, the President also drew the attention of the Japanese Ambassador to obtain technical assistance required for expeditiously respond to maritime accidents.   

Over the past few months, the Sri Lankan government had been desperately hunting for 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines to inoculate those who had received the first jabs and had spread the word globally that it was willing to purchase at any price.  

Following the meeting between the President and the Japanese Ambassador today  it still remains unclear as to what price Sri Lanka would purchase these vaccines from Japan and when it would arrive here.    

•  the President also drew the attention of the Japanese Ambassador to obtain technical assistance required for expeditiously respond to maritime accidents