Sri Lanka seeks $100 million loan from World Bank to procure vaccines

September 22, 2021 at 4:42 PM

The Cabinet has granted approval to obtain a supplementary loan of US$ 100 million from the World Bank under the programme of strategic preparation and response to COVID-19.

The Government said as mentioned in the national utility and vaccination plan for COVID-19 pandemic situations, the National Covid Task Force has decided to widen the fundamental target of vaccinating 60% of the Sri Lanka population. 

The World Bank has agreed to grant a supplementary loan of US$ 100 million for an emergency response to COVID-19 and preparation of health sector projects under the programme of strategic preparation and response to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. 

The Government said it has been planned to procure 14 million doses of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as well as financing other costs pertaining to the vaccination. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the resolution submitted by Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella to obtain the relevant supplementary financing facility. (NewsWire)