Keheliya further remanded until Feb 29

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella and the six suspects who were remanded in connection with the procurement and distribution of substandard immunoglobulin within the Sri Lankan hospital system were further remanded until the 29th of February.

The order was issued by Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama.

During the hearing of the case on Thursday (15), Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed court that funds amounting to Rs.144.4 million used for the purchase originated from the Ministry of Health expenditure heads to purchase oxygen.

She added that investigations revealed it was misuse of the government expenditure heads.

While the six previously remanded suspects appeared in court yesterday, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was not produced in court.

Prison officials cited medical reasons for the former minister's non-appearance, and informed that Rambukwella can be produced before court on the 22nd of February.

Thereafter, the Senior Deputy Solicitor General presented findings from the investigation, suggesting potential irregularities in the former Health Minister's actions regarding drug procurement.

Specifically, the prosecution alleged that Rambukwella misrepresented the drug shortage situation to trigger emergency procurement procedures.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General further noted that Rambukwella had presented a document to the Cabinet on September 26, 2022. 

This document reportedly indicated a shortage of 182 medicines and raised potential concerns about a possible health crisis within two weeks.

She further highlighted inconsistencies in the document, noting that while it lists a shortage of 182 medicines, no accompanying documentation detailing the specific medications was found.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General presented evidence suggesting that the sixth suspect, former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Shri Chandra Gupta, initiated an emergency procurement for 285 medications on the day following the document referencing a potential medicine shortage was submitted.

She noted that of the 285 medications, only 229 were procured.

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama informed court that even when the procurement process was taking place, there was sufficient stocks in the country for all medications except for 19 medicines that were being procured.

The Deputy Solicitor General said nine of these 19 medications have not been procured to date, and informed court that 10 of the procured medications arrived after three months.

The Senior Deputy Solicitor General alleged that the investigation suggests potential misappropriation of public funds amounting to two billion rupees, based on the alleged fabrication of a drug shortage to trigger emergency procurement.