Substandard drug imports case: Indictments served on Keheliya and others

Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several other defendants, accused of misusing government funds through the purchase of substandard human immunoglobulin vials during the previous government, were indicted before a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court today (16).

After serving indictments, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed court that the Attorney General opposes granting bail to the defendants, said Ada Derana reporter.

Subsequently, the defense counsel commenced presenting facts in support of the defendants’ bail applications.

In 2022, amidst the country’s economic crisis, a number of high-ranking health officials were allegedly involved in the purchase of medicine stocks by changing existing procurement procedures and creating a false shortage of drugs in the country.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched an investigation based on two complaints received regarding this matter.

Subsequently, a case was filed naming 12 individuals as suspects.

These include the owner of the company that supplied the substandard drugs, Sudath Janaka Fernando, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, former Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Chandragupta, and a group of other high-ranking officials in the health sector.