• Ensuring everyone, everywhere, is vaccinated is the best way out of the pandemic
• The emergence of new variants of concern remains a dangerous possibility
• Availability of vaccines remains uneven globally

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

A possible catastrophic situation that could emerge in the country has been brought under control by implementing COVID-19 vaccination programme, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.The President made these remarks addressing the High-Level Thematic Debate on 'Galvanising Momentum for Universal Vaccination' held at the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, Friday (25), via video link.

 “The emergence of new variants of concern remains a dangerous possibility while the availability of vaccines remains uneven globally. As I stated in my address to the General Assembly last year, ensuring everyone, everywhere, is vaccinated is the best way out of the pandemic,” the President said.

 President of the UN General Assembly Mr. Abdulla Shahid and the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres expressing their views at the beginning of the debate pointed out the importance of vaccination and how different states have acted on it.