Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama Weerasinghe has directed the Director General of Health Services to assemble a medical panel comprising nine specialists to investigate the health condition of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
The directive follows a plea from Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama for an urgent inquiry into Rambukwella's medical condition, which allegedly prevents his appearance in court.
The Magistrate stipulated that the panel must include experts in heart, orthopedic, and lung diseases to thoroughly assess the former minister's health.
Rambukwella, the eighth suspect in a CID investigation into a multi-crore rupee fraud involving the importation and distribution of substandard antibody vaccines to government hospitals, was brought before the court.
A report from the prison hospital's doctor detailed Rambukwella's inability to attend court due to chest pain and breathing difficulties.
In response to the presented evidence, the magistrate granted the request and instructed the Director General of Health Services to furnish the investigation report to the court by the 26th.
