Former Minister Harin Fernando is set to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today to provide a statement regarding the substandard medicine including human immunoglobuline vaccine import scandal. Fernando, who was initially summoned yesterday (21), had requested to reschedule for today, citing his inability to attend as he was in Badulla yesterday (21).

Meanwhile, former Ministers Ramesh Pathirana, Roshan Ranasinghe, and Prasanna Ranatunga appeared before the CID yesterday regarding their involvement in approving a Cabinet paper presented by then-Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The paper authorised the importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vaccines.

The CID on 11 November informed Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama that it intends to record statements from 18 former ministers, including former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in connection with the approval of another Cabinet paper submitted by Rambukwella. This paper, dated 26 September 2022, authorised the importation of 182 types of drugs under the Indian loan scheme, allegedly under the false pretense of addressing a drug shortage.

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama revealed in court that the approval process raises questions about the necessity of the drugs listed, the validity of the drug shortage claim, and the Cabinet's decision to approve the proposal without further scrutiny.

The ministers expected to provide statements include former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and former ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Douglas Devananda, Susil Premajayantha, Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Harin Fernando, Dr Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, Vidura Wickramanayake, Kanchana Wijesekera, Naseer Ahmed, Roshan Ranasinghe, Tiran Alles, Nalin Fernando, and Jagath Pushpakumara.