Substandard drugs: Pharma company owner remanded

by Staff Writer 01-11-2023 | 6:31 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); A pharmaceutical importer who was arrested on the charge of allegedly supplying the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health with substandard Human immunoglobulin was remanded to the 15th of November.

The suspect was produced to the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court on Wednesday (2) afternoon.

The 57-year-old suspect, the owner of a company that imports pharmaceuticals - Isolez Biotech Pharma - was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday (31), in Kompanna Veediya, formerly known as Slave Island, in Colombo.

The suspect, a resident of Raddolugama, is alleged to have delivered substandard vials of Human immunoglobulin.

Recently it was revealed that 22,500 vials of substandard Human immunoglobulin, produced using human blood, was ordered by placing forged documentation.

Initially, it was mentioned that the vials were imported to the country, however, later it was revealed that the vials were in fact produced in Sri Lanka.

Former Health Minister of Sri Lanka, Keheliya Rambukwella said that saline or a similar product was sold to the Health Minister, as Human immunoglobulin.

The value of the consigned of Human immunoglobulin is estimated at almost Rs. 1 Billion.