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Colombo: Sri Lanka and the World Bank have signed an $80.5 million additional financing deal to help strengthen the country's vaccination system and pandemic preparedness.
Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank country director for Sri Lanka said that the global lender remained responsive to the health priorities of Sri Lanka as well as its emergency needs, in a statement issued on Saturday, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Effective deployment of the vaccines would help Sri Lanka protect people, build human capital and facilitate inclusive economic recovery, Faris added.
This additional financing under the Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project is to access and distribute safe and effective jabs that meet the World Bank's Vaccine Approval Criteria and to strengthen relevant health systems as we prepare for the future, the World Bank statement read.
"The government of Sri Lanka is committed to protecting our population from the impacts of the pandemic, and we have placed a high priority on strengthening and expanding the Covid-19 vaccination program," said Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.
"This useful and timely resource will help us to ensure equitable vaccine deployment among the eligible population of Sri Lanka."
The Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project with a total of $298.07 million has contributed heavily to the Island Nation's pandemic management efforts, including the procurement of medical and surgical consumables.