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COVID-19: No approval yet to use Chinese vaccine Sinopharm on Sri Lankans ANI | Updated: Apr 01, 2021 10:32 IST
Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 1 (ANI): Vaccination of Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka with the Sinopharm vaccine is set to start from next Monday. This comes after a consignment of Sinopharm coronavirus vaccines given by Beijing reached Colombo on Wednesday, the Colombo Page reported.
Despite this development, vaccination of Sri Lankans with the Chinese vaccine will be done after a study by a committee of experts, the country s National Medicines Regulatory Authority said.
Sri Lanka s Cabinet co-spokesperson Dr Ramesh Pathirana said the vaccines will initially be administered only to Chinese nationals based in Sri Lanka, the Daily Mirror Online reported.
Sri Lanka puts Chinese COVID-19 vaccine on hold
Sun Online Desk
27th February, 2021 10:40:42
In a big blow for China, Sri Lanka has put the Chinese Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine on hold and will now use India-made Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate 14 million people.
Cabinet co-spokesman, Dr Ramesh Pathirana told Daily Mirror that the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm has not yet completed phase 3 clinical trials.
He further said that a complete dossier related to the registration of the Chinese vaccine has also not yet been received.
Sri Lanka to rely on India-made AstraZeneca vaccine
Sri Lanka will depend mostly on the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, he added.
Imports to save coconut oil factories, nearly 50 estimated to be already closed
13 MT to be imported by B.C.C. Corporation for 3 months
The Government will import 39 metric tons (MT) of sliced dry coconut through the State-run B.C.C. Corporation over a period of three months to encourage local coconut oil producers. According to Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, a combined proposal presented by his Ministry and the Ministry of Industry to import sliced dry coconut to fill the current shortage faced by local coconut oil producers was approved by the Cabinet.
The proposal is for the development of the coconut-based industry, Dr. Pathirana said, pointing out that 13 MT of sliced dry coconut would be imported via the State-run B.C.C. each month for a three-month period.
BIA, Mattala and Ratmalana Airports to waive fees
Govt. evaluating capacity for PCR testing and quarantining of travellers
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for a pilot project by the Ministry of Tourism to waive the landing and parking fees for international airlines which agree to fly in passengers to Sri Lanka between 26 December and 19 January 2021, a top official said yesterday.
The pilot project, aimed at promoting tourism, will be carried out in accordance with health guidelines prepared by local authorities, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. The temporary waiver of airport fees is aimed at encouraging the airline sector, which is facing a crisis, to fly passengers to Sri Lanka.