Chinese COVID vaccine arrives in SL; Officially handed over to President

Colombo (News 1st); 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, gifted by China to Sri Lanka were officially handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong on Wednesday (31).

The gift of vaccines was made in response to a written request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. According to the President's Media Division, SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 869 reached the Bandaranaike International Airport at 11:28 AM on Wednesday (31). The vaccine will be given to Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka from Monday (05), and Sri Lanka's National Medicines Regulation Authority had stated the vaccine will be given to Sri Lankans only after a study carried out by a panel of experts.