Statement by H.E. GotabayaRajapaksa
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
25 February 2022
The Chairperson,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Sri Lanka appreciates the initiative of His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, President of the United Nations General Assembly, in convening this debate.
The continuing spread of COVID-19 remains a matter of serious concern for all countries.
The emergence of new variants of concern remains a dangerous possibility while availability of vaccines remains uneven globally.
As I stated in my address to the General Assembly last year, ensuring everyone, everywhere, is vaccinated is the best way out of the pandemic.
Sri Lanka’s vaccination programme began in January 2021, shortly after vaccines first became available.
Itwas rooted in the principles of preventing mortality, morbidity, and transmission of COVID-19, and maintaining social and economic functions whilst safeguarding public health goals. We adopted a risk-based approach with healthcare workers, those with co-morbidities, and the elderly being prioritised for vaccination.
By January 2022, every citizen above the age of 12 has been offered the COVID-19 vaccine, and uptake has been exemplary throughout the country.
As of 15th February, this year, 95% of the eligible population has received one dose of the vaccine, while 80% have been double vaccinated. 44% of those fully vaccinated have also been provided a booster dose.
Despite the pandemic’s high human cost, these measures havehelped Sri Lanka contain its ravages to a large degree.
Sri Lanka appreciates the generosity of nations that donated vaccines directly or via COVAX, thereby augmenting the majority of vaccines Sri Lanka bought directly from manufacturers.
I call on all nations to work together to expedite universal vaccination for the benefit of humanity.
Thank You
****