SILMIYA YOUSUF
COLOMBO : President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has advised the relevant authorities to impose travel restrictions between the nine provinces.
The restrictions are to be implemented with immediate effect until the 30th of May, President’s Media Division announced on Monday night .
President’s Media Spokesman Kingsley Rathanayake issuing a statement on Monday, May 10 stated that President Rajapaksa arrived at several decisions to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the country after holding discussions with all stakeholders.
Accordingly, relevant authorizes have been advised to implement the following measures:
– To impose travel restrictions between all provinces,
– To cancel all public gatherings and functions
– To limit the number of people who can enter and remain inside commercial establishments
– Isolation of areas where infections rates are high
However, the President has also emphasized that proper procedures should be followed to ensure that the daily lives of the people are not disrupted and the essential services are maintained when implementing these strategies.
President Rajapaksa has pointed out that even with all these measures, the commitment of the people to control the Covid-19 epidemic is vital.
“The President is of the view that citizens focusing on social responsibilities and adhering to all safety measures and the advice given by the health sector to maintain social distancing and avoid unnecessary gatherings will lead to a healthier nation,” the spokesman noted.
The spokesman further said : “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa pays close and constant attention to the current situation in the country that has arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to present to you the outcome of his discussions with all relevant parties to protect the country and the people from this pandemic.
Sri Lanka received 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine free of charge and the government purchased another 500,000 vaccines. We received another consignment of 265,000 vaccine doses. Accordingly, Sri Lanka received a total of 1,265,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Under the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, around 925,000 people were given the first jab of the vaccine. However, the recent developments in India obstructed in getting down vaccines required for the second dose.
The health authorities have pointed out that around 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are required to complete the second dose of the vaccination. The government is currently in discussions with various parties to obtain the required AstraZeneca vaccine doses.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka received a donation of 600,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, which was not earlier approved by the World Health Organization.
However, as a result of a discussion President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) via ‘Zoom’ last Friday, the WHO on the same evening approved the emergency use of the “Sinopharm ” vaccine.
Accordingly, the “Sinopharm” vaccination programme was commenced from the very next day of receiving approval and the government is making arrangements to vaccinate 25,000 people per day in the Western Province under the first phase.
Negotiations held with the Chinese authorities to obtain three million doses of Sinopharm vaccine have been successful and the government has made plans to commence the vaccination programmes in other provinces too as soon as the vaccines are received.
The government has decided to use Russia’s Sputnik vaccine as well in the vaccination drive. Under the first phase of this, Sri Lanka received 15,000 doses of vaccines.
Since the vaccination method of Sputnik is slightly different from the methods used for other vaccines, our healthcare sector commenced the vaccination from the Gothatuwa area adopting the new methodology.
Under its second phase, 85,000 more Sputnik vaccines will be received soon.
The President is confident that Sri Lanka will be able to successfully manage the current situation through vaccination, similar to the successful results achieved in the United States, the United Kingdom and a number of European countries through vaccination. The President is also fully confident in Sri Lanka’s robust healthcare system and the entire staff members of the healthcare sector.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has specially appreciated Sri Lanka’s strong healthcare system in every discussion the President had with the WHO.
