India to distribute vaccines; SL yet to grant clearance

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka is yet to grant regulatory clearance to receive COVID-19 vaccines from India that is beginning the distribution of the jab among neighbouring states, the Indian High Commission has said. "It will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirments while supplying abroad," the foreign mission in Colombo noted in a statement. It added that Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles will receive the vaccines from Wednesday. "In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances," the statement read. India has begun a massive vaccination drive in its country and expects to inoculate 300 million people by August.