COLOMBO (News 1st): The flight carrying a consignment of 500,000 doses of India’s AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport a short while ago, airport officials told News 1st on Thursday morning (Jan. 28).

The donation of COVID-19 vaccines from the Indian government was brought to Sri Lanka aboard the AI 281 passenger aircraft with freezing facilities, which departed from India’s capital New Delhi.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Bagley handed over the donation of the COVID-19 vaccine consignment to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Katunayake Airport.

The donation of the vaccine consignment weighing 1323 kilograms, contains 500,000 doses of India’s AstraZeneca COVISHIELD vaccine, which could be used to vaccinate 250,000 individuals.

Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, was also present at the event.

The consignment was transported in a special vehicle with freezing facilities, to the Ministry of Health.

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