Sri Lanka on Friday started the vaccination drive against corona with made in India vaccine. The Island nation has started the vaccination a day after India gifted 5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine.

Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka took to Twitter to share the information about vaccination in Srilanka. The tweet reads,  "Made in India vaccine was administered in various hospitals in Colombo. This drive was formally launched at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Hon'ble MOS Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, High Commissioner and various other dignitaries attended the event." After receiving the consignment of vaccines, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted: "Received 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines provided by people of India at BIA today (28). Thank you! PM Shri Narendra Modi and people of India for the generosity shown towards People of Sri Lanka at this time in need."

The vaccination drive began at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita as frontline workers fighting COVID-19 were vaccinated with Covishield vaccine. The drive was formally launched at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases with the participation of State Minister of Primary Health Services, Pandemics and COVID Prevention, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, and India High Commissioner Gopal Baglay.Dr Ananda Wijewickrema, a specialist at the hospital recived the vaccine first. The hospital staff was then vaccinated. 

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