India's Covid Vaccine Key To A Disease-Free World: PM Modi To Mahinda Rajapaksa

The rapid development and launch of a Covid-19 vaccine by India was a landmark exercise in the world's endeavour to turn disease-free, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today. In a Twitter exchange with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, he once again highlighted the role played by scientists and frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.

Prime Minister Modi was responding to a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Rajapaksa following India's launch of the massive inoculation drive against Covid-19 yesterday.   

Thank you @PresRajapaksa. The tireless efforts of our scientists and frontline workers have played a crucial role in the fight against this pandemic. Fast development of vaccine and its launch is an important landmark in our joint endeavour for a healthy and disease free world. https://t.co/Lj50fkPm8g

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 17, 2021

Prime Minister Rajapaksa had earlier tweeted that India's vaccination drive was the beginning of the end of "this devastating pandemic".

Congratulations PM @narendramodi and the Government of India on taking this very important step with this massive #COVID19Vaccination drive. We are starting to see the beginning of the end to this devastating pandemic. @IndiainSL https://t.co/fcx8bO7RfV

— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) January 16, 2021

He was responding to a post by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka referring to the drive as a "human-centric approach to further global good".

A human-centric approach to further global good. #LargestVaccineDrive #IndiaFightsCorona @PMOIndia @narendramodi @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @GotabayaR @PresRajapaksa @RajapaksaNamal https://t.co/QYZzVyvA9K

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) January 16, 2021

Launching the massive exercise, which saw close to two lakh people being administered the vaccine, PM Modi said yesterday that India was among the few countries in the world that, despite all the difficulties during the pandemic, ensured that "essential medicines and medical help reached around 150 nations".

"Be it paracetamol or hydroxychloroquine or testing equipment, India has tried all possible ways to save other countries, too. Now that we have our own vaccine, even then the world is looking at India with hopeful eyes," he said in a national address prior to the launch.

"As the vaccination drive progresses, the world's countries will gain from India's experience. It is our commitment that India's vaccine and our manufacturing capability should be of use to entire humanity."