The Supreme Court has ordered the release of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other respondents on bonds while imposing an overseas travel ban on them for failing to fully pay court-ordered compensation in connection with the importation of substandard medicines into Sri Lanka.

The order was issued by a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.

In March, the Supreme Court ruled that fundamental rights had been violated through the importation of substandard medicines and ordered five respondents, including former Minister Rambukwella, to pay compensation.

Rambukwella was ordered to pay Rs. 75 million in compensation. However, his lawyer informed the court that only Rs. 20 million of the amount had been paid so far.

The latest order followed the consideration of 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 compensation as directed.

The Supreme Court subsequently ordered the four respondents to be released on bonds and prohibited them from travelling overseas.