The Attorney General today (26) served indictments before the Colombo High Court Special Trial-at-Bar against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 11 others in connection with the alleged importation of substandard Human Immunoglobulin vials.
The indictment includes a total of 13 charges, stemming from events that unfolded during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis. At the time, several high-ranking health officials were allegedly involved in altering procurement procedures to create an artificial drug shortage, leading to questionable purchases of medicine stocks.
Among these were stocks of Human Immunoglobulin vaccines, which reportedly caused complications in three patients from Kandy, Matale, and Colombo, raising serious concerns about the safety and quality of the medicine.
Following complaints, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched an investigation that led to a case being filed before the Maligakanda Magistrate Court. The suspects include Sudath Janaka Fernando, the supplier of the substandard vials, former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, and other senior health officials.
Ten of the twelve suspects were arrested, remanded, and later released on bail. However, the first suspect—Sudath Janaka Fernando—remains in remand custody.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, appearing before court on 19 June, confirmed that the CID’s probe had concluded after one year, eight months, and six days of investigation.
The indictments were formally served today before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Mahen Weeraman, Amali Ranaweera, and Pradeep Abeyratne at the Colombo High Court.
