Ex-Health Chief Arrested in Sri Lanka Over Fake Drug Scandal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Janaka Sri Chandragupta, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an investigation into the distribution of suspected counterfeit human immunoglobulin medication. 

Chandragupta had presented himself to the CID earlier in the day to provide a statement regarding the matter.

This development follows the previous arrests of several other individuals in the case, including Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, the former Director of the Medical Supplies Division and the owner of the company alleged to have supplied the counterfeit human immunoglobulin medication to the Ministry of Health. 

All these individuals are currently held in remand custody.

Preliminary court proceedings have revealed that the medication in question is suspected to be counterfeit. 

Initial reports suggested that it may have been administered to as many as 2,000 patients within Sri Lanka.