• Request made for 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines
• The matter has earned severe criticism on social media

SLPP Puttalam District MP and State Minister Priyankara Jayaratne has written to Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa requesting for 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the Puttalam District, instead of writing to the Ministry of Health. 

 The matter has earned severe criticism on social media as to why the State Minister had to turn to Namal instead of writing to the Ministry concerned. 

In a letter sent to Namal, the State Minister said that the vaccination drive in the Puttalam District was taking place at a very slow pace and that a number of people had requested his help to obtain the vaccines. 

A copy of his letter was also sent to the Army Commander General Shavendra Silva and Secretary of the Puttalam District Secretariat. 

Namal has come under severe criticism in recent months for commenting on subjects beyond his portfolio, bypassing those ministers concerned.