Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, who previously consumed the "Dhammika Peniya" to protect himself from COVID19, today received the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine at the Army Hospital.

Abeywardena's public support for the controversial local cure for COVID19 came under severe criticism from many quarters.

Along with Abeywardena, 24 MPs have so far received the vaccine for COVID19. However, a number of opposition MPs including Harin Fernando, Rohini Kavuratne, Mujibur Rahuman and Hesha Withanage have opted out of taking the vaccine requesting the government to give priority to vulnerable communities in the public.

Ruling party MP Rohana Dissanayake has also refused to take the vaccine on the same grounds.