Counsel representing the primary suspect, the owner of Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt) Ltd, involved in the substandard human immunoglobulin deal, disclosed to the court that they acted upon the explicit instructions of the then Health Minister. The statement, "The Minister asked me to do, I did it," was emphasized by Counsel Jaliya Samarasinghe before Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrame.
Amidst the legal proceedings, Magistrate Abeywickrama questioned the CID regarding the former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella's potential prior knowledge of the drug scam, which siphoned over Rs. 1 billion of public funds. This inquiry followed allegations from the suspects' counsel that the CID had omitted Minister Keheliya’s name in the suspects' statements and had refused to include it.
Accordingly, the Magistrate instructed the CID to record further statements from the 1st and 3rd suspects at the prison, emphasizing that counsel should present facts rather than hearsay.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama submitted a further report on the CID investigations, urging the court to instruct the CID to obtain additional statements from officers Vijith Gunasekera and Ms. A.M.P.K. Alweera of the NMRA. DSG Girihagama also sought an order for the CID to secure the statement of Vijith Gunasekera, who had relocated from Sri Lanka.
DSG Girihagama highlighted the Cabinet's approval for drug importation, filing an English copy in court and requesting the CID to provide a Sinhala translation. She emphasized that lab investigations on the productions were pending, seeking a later date for completion.
Seeking court permission, Counsel Girighagama proposed sending the productions to the Government Analyst for examination and reporting to the court. The DSG reiterated that the 1st suspect lacked authorization for manufacturing the questionable vaccine and importing related substances. She emphasized ongoing investigations and requested remand for the suspects.
However, counsel for the 6th suspect, Janaka Sri Chandragupta, challenged the CID, alleging political favoritism in not arresting former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and failing to apprehend the true culprits.
Six suspects, including former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, were further remanded until January 10 over the alleged procurement of substandard human immunoglobulin vials. The Magistrate's earlier directive stressed the arrest of all responsible parties, regardless of their positions, for justice in providing substandard medicine to the public.
