June 26, Colombo (LNW): A former senior government minister in Sri Lanka, along with several members of his family and a number of senior officials, has been formally indicted before a special judicial panel in Colombo in connection with a far-reaching investigation into the alleged importation and distribution of substandard medical drugs.
Keheliya Rambukwella, who previously served as Minister of Health, was served indictments this week alongside his wife, Kusum Priyadarshini Epa, three daughters, and a son-in-law. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) filed a total of 43 charges against the group, stemming from separate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. All individuals involved had earlier been arrested and subsequently released on bail.
In a parallel development, the Attorney General filed a fresh indictment consisting of 13 charges against Rambukwella and 11 others, including high-ranking civil servants and private sector actors, before a three-member bench at the Colombo High Court Special Trial-at-Bar. The case is tied to the controversial procurement of Human Immunoglobulin vials during Sri Lanka’s deep economic crisis in 2022.
At the time, Sri Lanka’s public health system was under intense pressure due to a combination of financial constraints and alleged mismanagement. Authorities now allege that procurement procedures were deliberately altered to facilitate the importation of substandard medicines, falsely portraying a critical shortage to justify bypassing standard protocols.
Concerns over the quality of these medical imports intensified after three patients—treated in Kandy, Matale, and Colombo—reportedly experienced serious complications following the administration of Human Immunoglobulin, a plasma-derived product used to support immune-deficient patients. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initiated its inquiry after receiving multiple formal complaints.
Following a protracted investigation spanning nearly two years, CID investigators concluded their probe in June. The matter was previously heard at the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court, where 12 individuals were named as suspects, including the supplier of the contested drugs, Sudath Janaka Fernando, and Janaka Chandragupta, a former Health Ministry Secretary. While most of the accused have been granted bail, the primary supplier remains in remand custody.
The indictments now place Rambukwella and others at the centre of a high-profile corruption and public health case that has attracted widespread national attention. Legal analysts expect proceedings before the Special Trial-at-Bar to be closely watched, given the political sensitivities and potential implications for pharmaceutical oversight in the country.
The trial will be heard before Justices Mahen Weeraman, Amali Ranaweera, and Pradeep Abeyratne. If convicted, the accused could face significant penalties, with broader consequences for public trust in health sector governance.
