The vaccines are element of India’s “Vaccine Maitri” initiative, and these have also been gifted vaccines to seven other nations in the area. (Photo supply: ANI)
Sri Lanka set to acquire shortly a large consignment containing 500,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). This showcases India’s commitment to its “Neighbourhood First” Policy and SAGAR doctrine in which the island nation has an significant position. The vaccines are element of India’s “Vaccine Maitri” initiative, and these have also been gifted vaccines to seven other nations in the area.
The delivery of the COVISHIELD vaccines to Sri Lanka is also a fulfillment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment which he had created to his Sri Lankan counterpart Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in September 2020.
For minimizing the well being and financial effect of the pandemic, in the virtual summit at that time, India had presented all feasible assistance to that nation.
Who will acquire the vaccine?
The Government of Sri Lanka which authorized emergency use of the vaccine final week, currently has a list of groups like healthcare workers and armed personnel. They will be 1st to acquire the vaccine.
In the New year, as his 1st foreign pay a visit to in 2021, and also the 1st by a foreign dignitary to Sri Lanka in the New Year, external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar visited that nation from January 5-7. It was through that pay a visit to that Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena had requested for an urgent delivery of the COVID vaccines. And India has fulfilled that request by supplying practically 5 lakh doses of the vaccine.
India-Sri Lanka Bilateral relations through COVID instances
India has played a pretty significant part as a 1st responder in the area. To make sure monetary stability of the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, it has extended a USD 400-million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka. And has gifted about 26 tons of vital lifesaving medicines and gear to the government of that nation. In reality, as has been reported earlier, apart from facilitating the repatriation of various hundred Sri Lankan citizens from numerous Indian cities, New Delhi was the 1st to send such a consignment on-board two particular Air India aircrafts.