Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials visited the residence of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to obtain a statement on the importation of substandard medicines, based on a request by the latter to voluntarily provide a statement on the matter, the Police said.
Responding to questions raised by the media on why the CID officials had not summoned the minister to record a statement, which had also been the talk on social media, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa issued a clarification.
Addressing the media yesterday, SSP Thalduwa revealed that as the investigations were ongoing the CID had not made a decision at the time to question Keheliya Rambukwella.
“Only when the CID has enough evidence will they summon an individual for questioning. However, Minister Rambukwella had voluntarily informed the CID that he was willing to provide a statement and that he was also able to provide sufficient evidence, requesting the officers to visit his residence. Based on this, the CID had decided to record the statement at the minister’s residence,” he clarified.
The CID recorded a statement from Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at his residence on Tuesday (Dec 26) on the importation of substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines during his tenure as the Health Minister.
A probe was initially launched into allegations that a pharmaceutical company had imported 22,500 vials of substandard Immune Globulin vaccines by creating forged documents with the assistance of the two senior state officials.
CID investigations also found that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine.
Further investigations found that Sudath Janaka Fernando alias ‘Aruna Deepthi’ who owns the pharmaceutical company had imported the stock of substandard medicines.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Dr. Vijith Gunasekera and the Director of Supply at the Ministry of Health Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake were found to have assisted the importation by providing forged ministry documents.
The group was arrested and remanded, after which Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta was also arrested over the matter.
The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded five suspects, including Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta until January 10, 2024. (NewsWire)