Dear Citizens of Colombo,

I wish to keep you informed of the fact that on the directive of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, a mass scale vaccination campaign is to be launched in order to contain the current pandemic.

In this effort, we have identified the frontline workers and their supporting members are of paramount importance in including into the current vaccination drive. The frontline staff who have benefited from the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, have been included for the second dose of AstraZeneca due to this importance.

Frontline workers also include those who track and trace, relocate patients to quarantine centres and hospitals and administer PCR tests. Additionally, they identify eligible people for the Sinopharm vaccine and support the Public Health Department staff members who are engaged in one of the most challenging health initiatives in Sri Lanka. The target is to vaccinate beyond 100,000 people in Colombo within two weeks, and this is a monumental task.

At this crucial juncture, we must protect our frontline staff of the Public Health Department, its related officials, their support staff such as the security sector. Keeping them well and safe will certainly result in the safety of our health sector as well as of the citizens of Colombo at large.

I am fully aware of the fact that some 30,000 citizens of Colombo who have already received the first dose of AstraZeneca by March 01, 2021 are now awaiting their second dose to meet the ideal prime-boost interval of 12-14 weeks.

In this context, the state procurement system has managed to source and procure an adequate stock of AstraZeneca vaccines for the second dose, which will be received within the next 14 days.

As the Mayor of Colombo, I have made my fullest effort to secure necessary doses of AstraZeneca vaccines utilising all my local and international support network and I can ensure that we will receive sufficient stocks within the stipulated timeframe.

Therefore, I appeal you to be patient and be vigilant. Please maintain high personal health standards until we administer the vaccine as pledged.

As citizens of Colombo, your health and well-being is my primary objective. Our efforts to fully vaccinate you within the due timeframe will be successful. We shall deliver the promise without further delay. Your support and understanding is highly appreciated during these difficult times.

Yours sincerely,

Rosy Senanayake
Mayor of Colombo