The owner of the company implicated in the importation of substandard immunoglobulin vials has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
Previously, the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court had imposed a foreign travel ban on three individuals, including the company owner, Sugath Janaka Fernando, who is also known as Aruna Deepthi. This legal action was taken in response to the importation of 22,500 substandard immunoglobulin vials.
Earlier this month, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) disclosed that a batch of human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) brought into Sri Lanka from India, in violation of due procedures, had been suspended from use. In a media release, the then NMRA Chairman, Prof. S.D. Jayaratne, revealed that forged documents had been submitted for Customs clearance during the importation of the drug, which subsequently failed quality tests.
The product, manufactured by Livealth Biopharma Private Limited, India, was imported by a local medicine supplier named Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt.) Ltd.
It has been reported that approximately Rs. 130 million in funds were misappropriated due to the illicit importation of 22,500 vials of IVIG.
The NMRA indicated that the situation came to light following reports of allergic reactions in several patients treated at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 22 and the Matale District General Hospital on September 16.
The arrested suspect is scheduled to appear in court today.
