The Indian government has reiterated that no export ban has been imposed on Covid-19 vaccines.
The spokesperson of the Indian High Commission made this observation in response to media queries regarding the supply of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from India to Sri Lanka.
"I would like to draw your attention to the response given by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India in New Delhi on 2 April 2021. He very clearly said that the Government of India has not imposed any export ban on COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, supplies to many countries in various regions of the world have taken place last week also," the Spokesperson said.
Sri Lanka is among 80 countries to which a total of over 64 million doses of COVID 19 vaccines made in India have been supplied, as bilateral gifts, through COVAX facility and on commercial orders many of which were placed last year.
"No country has shared with the world COVID 19 vaccines in such a large quantity while vaccinating its own population," the Spokesperson noted.
Arrival of duly approved AstraZeneca COVID 19 vaccines as a gift from India in January this year enabled vaccination against the dreaded pandemic in Sri Lanka to begin ahead of earlier plans.
"As a close friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka, India ensured that the people of Sri Lanka start benefitting from India’s global prowess in vaccine production within days of launch of COVID 19 vaccination in India itself.
More than 1.25 million doses of made-in-India COVISHIELD vaccine have so far been delivered to Sri Lanka. Production of COVID-19 vaccines in India is being ramped up further to meet domestic requirements and global demand.
Supply of COVID-19 vaccines by India under VaccineMaitri embodies India’s abiding commitment to utilize its globally renowned vaccine manufacturing capacities in fighting COVID-19 pandemic for larger global good," he added.
