Johnston appeals to Opposition to cooperate with govt. to beat virus

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday called on the Opposition parties to sink political difference and help make the nationa vaccination drive a success.

Speaking to journalists after a progress review meeting in his Ministry, the minister said that the national vaccination drive was progressing fast, thanks to guidance of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the dedication of the security personnel and health officials. “While the vaccination drive is in progress, we saw some political party leaders criticising it and making unfounded allegations. This is not a political project that they should try to score political points over. This is a national drive and it is against a virus that would not consider any party differences when it strikes. There are some who cannot understand that truth. We saw some shouting that there would be no second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those who got the first dose. Now we have got a consignment of more than 700,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from Japan. Similarly we will complete vaccinating using other brands, including Sinopharm, Moderna, Sputnik V and Pfizer. The administering of vaccines hit a new record number of 500,000 in a single day. We will continue that efficiency.

“We act to save the lives of people and ensure all would get their vaccines so that we can open the country soon. We cannot keep the country closed and not the economy running. We call on the Opposition to understand this national urgency and encourage people to get their vaccines rather than planning means and slogans to get them to the streets for protests.

“We saw both government and Opposition members got their vaccines. SJB, UNP and even comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake of JVP got the vaccine. It is good. They should encourage their supporters too and support the national vaccination drive. This is a time that they should overlook their party colours for the sake of the nation. They can learn from the Opposition parties in other countries.

“We are sure that we can achieve the targets in administering the vaccines as instructed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. We as a nation must be thankful to the security forces and health officials for their dedicated service to make this drive a success and fight off the pandemic,” the Minister said.