Overseas travel bans have been imposed on the owner of a pharmaceutical company that had imported substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines, and two senior officials from the state health sector for having assisted in the imports of substandard medicines to Sri Lanka, it was reported.
According to media reports, the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Monday (Oct 30) imposed the travel bans on the three suspects.
The suspects are Sudath Janaka Fernando alias ‘Aruna Deepthi’ who owns the pharmaceutical company, Chief Executive Officer of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Dr. Vijith Gunasekera, and the Director of Supply at the Ministry of Health Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had commenced an investigation into allegations that the pharmaceutical company had imported 22,500 vials of substandard Immune Globulin vaccines by creating forged documents with the assistance of the two senior state officials.
Investigations have revealed that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine.
The CID had informed the Maligakanda Court that the suspects were attempting to flee the country, after which the court imposed overseas travel bans on the suspects.
The Magistrate also ordered the CID to apprehend the suspects and present them in court before November 16, 2023. (NewsWire)
