Keheliya Released on Bail After Court Reviews Compensation Dispute

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other respondents, including former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, were today released on bail by the Supreme Court after it was informed that compensation ordered by the court had not yet been paid in full.

The order was made after a motion filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka was taken up before court.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, also imposed an overseas travel ban on the respondents.

The case originates from a Supreme Court ruling delivered in March, which found that fundamental rights had been violated in connection with the importation of substandard medicines during the tenure of the previous government.

At the time, the Supreme Court directed five respondents, including former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, to pay compensation after they were named as respondents in the fundamental rights case.

During today's proceedings, counsel appearing for Rambukwella informed the court that his client had already paid Rs. 20 million out of the Rs. 75 million compensation ordered by the court.

The latest application was filed on the grounds that former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the other respondents had allegedly committed contempt of court by failing to fully comply with the compensation payment order issued by the Supreme Court.