The Supreme Court has ordered the release on bonds of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other respondents, while imposing overseas travel bans on them over their failure to fully pay court-ordered compensation in connection with the importation of substandard medicines.
The order was issued by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, following the consideration of a motion filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka.
The four respondents include former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta.
The motion alleged that the respondents had committed contempt of court by failing to comply with an earlier Supreme Court ruling ordering them to pay compensation.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that fundamental rights had been violated through the importation of substandard medicines during the previous government.
Accordingly, the court ordered five respondents, including former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, to pay compensation over the fundamental rights violations.
Rambukwella was ordered to pay Rs. 75 million in compensation. However, during the proceedings, his lawyer informed the court that he had so far paid only Rs. 20 million of the amount.
The latest orders were issued following the respondents’ failure to fully settle the compensation amounts as directed by the Supreme Court. (Newswire)