Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa's statement on prioritising Buddhist monks and other clergy in COVID19 vaccination has drawn severe backlash on Twitter.

The Opposition Leader's statement came in the wake of the death of former MP Baddegama Samitha Thera who passed away due to COVID19-related complications.

However, many who responded to the Opposition Leader's statement said demanding priority for Buddhist monks in COVID19 vaccination lacked logical and scientific basis as monks could remain indoors and avoid interactions with the public.

"Can someone tell our opposition leader there is no rational justification for bringing religious leaders into the #COVIDVaccination priority list?," Activist Prasad Welikumbura said responding to the statement.

"Monks are not essential services.We have healthcare professionals and frontline workers who badly need the vaccines. We have millions of people in high-risk groups. We have teachers, ambulance drivers, and more. Not only is this disappointing, it's batshit insane politics," writer Yudhanjaya Wijeratne said.

"I'm not sure if this is a sad attempt at trying to get some extra votes, but this man really needs to do better as Opposition Leader. Ask the government to vaccinate PHIs, hospital staff & even military manning quarantine centres before clergy," journalist Munza Mushtaq tweeted.

Tens of thousands of workers involved in essential services and many others who are forced to interact with society are yet to be vaccinated as the government battles a limited supply of vaccines.