Keheliya’s revision bail application rejected

HC affirms Maligakanda MC ruling

The Colombo High Court yesterday (03) rejected the revision application filed by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella (SLPP Kandy District) seeking bail.

The order was delivered by High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka.

Lawyers for Rambukwella, who is currently in remand custody over procurement of fake immunoglobulin (IVIG), submitted the revision application to the High Court on 15 March, after the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court refused to grant the former Minister bail.

In his bail application, filed through his legal team, Rambukwella claimed that the Maligakanda Magistrate’s decision to reject bail for him was unlawful. He also sought the High Court to release him on bail subject to any condition.

The other accused in the case are former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, Additional Health Secretary Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Director of the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Kapila Wickremenayake, Deputy Director of MSD Thusitha Sudarshana, Assistant MSD Director Devashantha Soloman, MSD Accountant(Supplies) Neran Dhananjaya, MSD Stock Controller Sujith Kumara and the owner of the company which is alleged to have supplied fake batch of IVIG vials.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Rambukwella on 02 February.

The arrest came hot on the heels of pressure from civil society activists and health sector trade unions, who called for the immediate apprehension of the lawmaker.

In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) revealed that forged documents were found to have been submitted for Customs clearance to procure a batch of vials containing human immunoglobulin, an antibody produced by blood plasma cells, which later failed the quality tests.