Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other suspects implicated in the alleged importation of substandard immunoglobulin vials have been further remanded until August 22. The order was issued after they were produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today (08).
Meanwhile, the court granted bail to former Health Secretary Janaka Chandraguptha and a former Additional Health Secretary, both of whom had been in remand custody.
Rambukwella was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on February 2 for his alleged involvement in procuring substandard IVIG vials. The arrest followed pressure from civil society activists and health sector trade unions demanding his immediate apprehension.
In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) disclosed that forged documents had been submitted for Customs clearance to procure a batch of human immunoglobulin vials, which later failed quality tests.
Before Rambukwella's arrest, seven others had been detained in connection with the drug procurement scam, though the fifth accused was subsequently released on bail. The arrested individuals include the former Health Secretary, former Additional Health Secretary, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD), three other officials from the same division, and the owner of the company that allegedly supplied the substandard immunoglobulin vials.
One of the suspects, former Deputy Director of the Medical Supplies Division, Dr. Thusitha Sudarshana, was released on bail when the case was last heard on May 06.
