(VIDEO) 13 million Sri Lankans to be vaccinated by end of September; President

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his address to the nation said 13 million Sri Lankans, above the age of 30, will be vaccinated by the end of September 2021.

'I want to ensure that all citizens in Sri Lanka are vaccinated,' said the President adding that as a result of the efforts undertaken, large volumes of the COVID vaccine doses are reaching the country every month.

The President said Sri Lanka will only use vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.

"We have already received 1.2 million doses of the AstranaZeneca vaccine, 3.1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, and 130,000 doses of the Sputnik vaccine," he said while noting that in total Sri Lanka received 4.4 million doses of vaccines.

The President said 03 million people from the country's population have already been vaccinated, while vaccine doses are to expected in the coming months.

In July, Sri Lanka is to receive 04 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, 2.5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine & 02 million doses of the Sputnik vaccine, he said.

In addition, in August Sri Lanka is to receive 05 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, 2.5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, and 02 million doses of the Sputnik vaccine, he added.

Another 03 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka in September, he said.