brand logo

Chinese Covid-19 vaccines: Sri Lanka to locally manufacture Sinovac

23 May 2021

  • Cabinet approves Health Minister's proposal 

  • Manufacture to commence in Pallekele: SPMC Chair 

  By Yumiko Perera    The Cabinet of Ministers last Tuesday (18) granted approval to a proposal submitted by Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi for the manufacture of the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in Sri Lanka.  The State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) has been vested with the authority to negotiate and sign the relevant agreements, The Sunday Morning further learnt.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, SPMC Chairman Dr. Uthpala Indrawansa said: "Procuring Covid-19 vaccines from other countries has proven to be a hard task. We believe that we have the manufacturing capacity to produce the said vaccine locally."  He added that the production of the relevant vaccines would commence in a facility in Pallekele with a newly built Japanese Goods Manufacturing Process (GMP), which would ensure that the manufactured vaccines are consistently produced and controlled according to the quality standards, to aid in the process.  The Sunday Morning learnt that Minister Wanniarachchi had sought Cabinet approval to commence negotiations to reach an agreement with the respective Chinese company, as it has expressed interest in manufacturing the vaccine in Sri Lanka.  The Minister has also explained that the company has also requested to sign a five-year buyback agreement. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said such an agreement could not be reached at this juncture, but to start negotiations to commence the manufacturing process.   Attempts made by The Sunday Morning to contact Minister Wanniarachchi; State Minister of the Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana; State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle; and Cabinet Spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella in this regard, proved futile.  


More News..