The World Bank has commended Sri Lanka’s approach to the procurement process of purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement issued on Friday.

Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) stated that the World Bank has recognized the SPC as the leading institution in comparison to the other institutions in South Asian countries in terms of transparency when purchasing vaccines, the statement read.

In recognition of this, Dr. Gunasena said Sri Lanka will be given access to make payments through the World Bank website when purchasing vaccines. This came to light during a discussion held with the Special Committee on COVID-19 at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday morning, the PMD added.

Over 17 million doses of vaccines, including Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Sputnik V hare expected to arrive in the country from July to September. The President has emphasized the need to formulate a programme to administer the vaccines to more people throughout the country within a short period of time.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) PresidentDr. Anuruddha Padeniya has noted that a proposal to conduct the vaccination drive at selected hospitals will be submitted to the Director-General of Health Services. He further said this will enable the public to receive vaccines from those hospitals throughout the day on most days.

Ministers Gamini Lokuge, Bandula Gunawardane, Johnston Fernando, Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Prasanna Ranatunga, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Ramesh Pathirana, Namal Rajapaksa, State Ministers Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, MP Madhura Withanage, Senior Advisor to President Lalith Weeratunga, Health Secretary Major General (Retired) Specialist Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Commanders of Tri-Forces, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Heads of Security and Health Sectors have also attended the discussion.