Keheliya Claims Controversial Drug Procurement Cabinet Paper Came from Ranil

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that it was not he, but then Finance Minister and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had submitted the Cabinet paper linked to the controversial emergency drug procurement process.

He made the remarks during a lengthy statement delivered from the dock the day on Monday.

The trial before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in the case filed by the Attorney General against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and other accused over the procurement of substandard Human Immunoglobulin injections concluded today.

The oral testimony of the accused was concluded yesterday.

Written submissions are scheduled to be presented on November 25, while oral submissions will be heard on November 30. A date for the verdict is expected to be fixed thereafter.

The Attorney General has filed this case against 12 accused persons under 13 indictments, including charges of conspiring to fraudulently misappropriate Rs. 144.4 million belonging to the State by supplying 6,195 vials containing substances that were not Human Immunoglobulin and Rituximab to the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, and criminally misappropriating those funds.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is the eighth accused in the case.