May 28, Colombo: A batch of 50,000 doses of the Russia-manufactured Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Sri Lanka Thursday night,. This is the second batch of Sputnik V vaccine stock ordered by the Government of Sri Lanka from Russia.

The 50,000 doses of Sputnik were brought to the Bandaranaike International Airport at around 10.50 last night on an Emirates flight EK2528. The vaccine was transported to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation’s cold storage warehouse by trucks with freezers.

The Health Ministry stated that this stock of COVID-19 vaccine is planned to be used in the ongoing vaccination program.

The government has ordered 1.3 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine and the first batch of 15,000 doses arrived in Sri Lanka on May 04.

Meanwhile, another one million doses of Sinopharm Vaccine ordered by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation from China will arrive in the country on June 06, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation said.

According to the recommendations of the health department, the Covid vaccination program will be extended to other areas of the country and the stock of vaccines will be released as soon as it is received.