Army Chief counters criticism

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is critical of the Army’s vaccination drive had been inoculated at the Army Hospital in Narahenpita, Army Commander and the head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), General Shavendra Silva told the media yesterday.

General Silva made this statement responding to a question posed by journalists on Wickremesinghe’s statement that the COVID-19 task force was responsible for the current deaths from COVID-19, and had criticism the armed forces for running vaccination centres..

“Some people over 60 have not been inoculated and their lives are in danger. We urge them to be inoculated as soon as possible. Out of the 94 who died on Sunday (08), 71 were over 60. The overwhelming majority among them were those who weren’t inoculated. They can easily visit the Army vaccination centres at the Viharamaha Devi Park and at Diyatha Uyana,” Gen. Silva said.

The Army Commander added that those who had received their first jab should stay safe till they were fully vaccinated. Even those who were double jabbed should be careful. “Most Sri Lankans are happy with the Army’s vaccination drive and even Wickremesinghe, who is highly critical of the Army, was vaccinated by us,” he said.