The Supreme Court has ordered the release on bonds of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other respondents who had failed to pay the full compensation ordered by the court in connection with the importation of substandard medicines.
The court has also prohibited them from leaving the country, Ada Derana reporter said.
In March this year, the Supreme Court ruled that fundamental human rights had been violated through the process of importing substandard medicines during the previous government and ordered five respondents, including former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, to pay compensation.
Accordingly, Rambukwella was ordered to pay Rs. 75 million in compensation. However, his attorney informed the court that he had paid only Rs. 20 million of the stipulated amount.
The latest order was issued after the court considered a motion filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka, alleging that Rambukwella and the other respondents had committed contempt of court by failing to pay the prescribed compensation in full.
The order was delivered by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
