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Sri Lanka receives USD 80.51 million from the World Bank Group to implement the Second Additional Financing for Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Preparedness project

The COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented threat on every aspect of humankind. The Sri Lankan economy was extremely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with a direct impact on almost every industry. However, efforts are being made to gradually reopen the economy and revitalize economic activities. Vaccination plays a critical role in the endeavor of transitioning to a new normal.


Due to the rapid increase of the COVID-19 incidence in Sri Lanka, the Government has given priority to enable affordable and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and to help ensure effective vaccine deployment in Sri Lanka through vaccination system strengthening and to further strengthen preparedness and response activities. The sole objective of the proposed project is to assist the Government to procure COVID -19 vaccines according to the World Bank vaccine approval criteria while covering the deployment cost of the vaccination program from its inception and, associated cost of the vaccination process.


Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 vaccination program aims to control outbreaks and prevent transmission at the initial stage, while gradually boosting and maintaining herd immunity. In addition to the immediate health benefits, COVID-19 vaccination could speed up the economic recovery process that will likely yield more return of investments, particularly through building confidence in the tourism sector and export sector.


Hence, the relevant Financing and loan Agreements of the aforementioned project were signed by Mr. S. R. Attygalle, Secretary, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Faris H. Haded-Zervos, Country Director, World Bank for Sri Lanka on behalf of the World Bank on May 13, 2021.

 

Issued by the Department of External Resources on May 11, 2021.

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