Former Minister Harin Fernando says he does not believe that the former Cabinet could be held responsible for the importation of inferior Immune Globulin vaccines.

Speaking to the media, Harin Fernando said that on a daily basis between 60-70 Cabinet papers are submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.

He further revealed that the Cabinet papers are created by the relevant ministry secretaries and given to the subject minister, who in turn presents it to the Cabinet.

Harin Fernando said, thereafter, the Finance Ministry issued recommendations, which was the standard procedure, adding that the rest of the Cabinet Ministers cannot be held accountable. 

The former Minister made the remarks after arriving at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today to record a statement concerning the importation of inferior Immune Globulin vaccines during the tenure of Keheliya Rambukwella as Health Minister. 

Former ministers Ramesh Pathirane, Roshan Ranasinghe, and Prasanna Ranatunga reported to the CID yesterday about approving the Cabinet paper presented by Keheliya Rambukwella for this purpose.

On 11 November, the CID informed the Maligakantha Magistrate’s Court that statements would be obtained from 18 ministers, who represented the Cabinet led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the time, regarding the approval of the Cabinet paper submitted by Keheliya Rambukwella.

Earlier this year, several Health Ministry officials, including Keheliya Rambukwella, were arrested and remanded after the CID launched an investigation into allegations that a 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 revealed that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine, under the tenure of Keheliya Rambukwella as Health Minister. 

Keheliya Rambukwella, who was remanded over the incident, was granted bail by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court after being in remand custody for nearly 07 months. (Newswire)

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Former ministers Ramesh Pathirane, Roshan Ranasinghe, and Prasanna Ranatunga reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today about approving the Cabinet paper presented by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for the importation of inferior Immune Globulin vaccines.

It is reported that former minister Harin Fernando is to appear before the CID tomorrow.

On 11 November, the CID informed the Maligakantha Magistrate’s Court that statements would be obtained from 18 ministers, who represented the Cabinet led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the time, regarding the approval of the Cabinet paper submitted by Keheliya Rambukwella.

Presenting facts before the court, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama said that there were 18 other members of the cabinet when the former Health Minister forwarded the cabinet paper in September 2022, to buy 182 types of medicines under the Indian loan scheme claiming a shortage of medicines.

Stating that the Cabinet paper had not mentioned the medicines required to be imported, the Deputy Solicitor General said statements should be recorded as to how the cabinet granted approval without ascertaining whether there was an actual medicine shortage. 

Accordingly, the CID had informed former ministers Ramesh Pathirane, Roshan Ranasinghe, Prasanna Ranatunga, and Harin Fernando to report to the CID today to record a statement in this regard. 

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who was remanded over the alleged import of substandard human Immunoglobulin injections, was granted bail by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court after being in remand custody for nearly 07 months. 

Earlier this year, several Health Ministry officials, including Keheliya Rambukwella, were arrested and remanded after the CID launched an investigation into allegations that a 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 revealed that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine, under the tenure of Keheliya Rambukwella as Health Minister. (Newswire)

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Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials visited the residence of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to obtain a statement on the importation of substandard medicines, based on a request by the latter to voluntarily provide a statement on the matter, the Police said.

Responding to questions raised by the media on why the CID officials had not summoned the minister to record a statement, which had also been the talk on social media, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa issued a clarification.

Addressing the media yesterday, SSP Thalduwa revealed that as the investigations were ongoing the CID had not made a decision at the time to question Keheliya Rambukwella.

“Only when the CID has enough evidence will they summon an individual for questioning. However, Minister Rambukwella had voluntarily informed the CID that he was willing to provide a statement and that he was also able to provide sufficient evidence, requesting the officers to visit his residence. Based on this, the CID had decided to record the statement at the minister’s residence,” he clarified. 

The CID recorded a statement from Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at his residence on Tuesday (Dec 26) on the importation of substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines during his tenure as the Health Minister.

A probe was initially launched into allegations that a 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. 

CID investigations also found that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine. 

Further investigations found that Sudath Janaka Fernando alias ‘Aruna Deepthi’ who owns the pharmaceutical company had imported the stock of substandard medicines.

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 were found to have assisted the importation by providing forged ministry documents. 

The group was arrested and remanded, after which Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta was also arrested over the matter.

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded five suspects, including  Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta until January 10, 2024. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandraguptha has been arrested over the case filed on the importation of substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines.

Janaka Chandraguptha was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today (Dec 18).

The arrest comes after the CID commenced an investigation into allegations that a pharmaceutical company had imported 22,500 vials of substandard Immune Globulin vaccines.

It was revealed that the importation had been carried out by creating forged documents with the assistance of the two senior state officials and that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine.

The suspects involved in the fraudulent importation were Sudath Janaka Fernando alias ‘Aruna Deepthi’ who owns the pharmaceutical company, the 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 suspects were arrested by the CID following investigations launched into the matter, with the arrest of the former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandraguptha being the latest apprehension related to the case. (NewsWire)

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Four persons including the Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health Dr. Kapila Wickramanayaka have been arrested over the controversial import of substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines.

Dr. Kapila Wickramanayaka and the three others were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today. 

The arrest comes after the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court in October ordered the owner of a pharmaceutical company that had imported substandard stocks of vaccines and two other high-ranking state officials from the Health Sector to be arrested over the incident.

Director of Supply at the Ministry of Health Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake and Chief Executive Officer of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Dr. Vijith Gunasekera were identified as the two senior Health Sector officials who had assisted the owner of the pharmaceutical company in importing substandard medicines to Sri Lanka. 

The CID had launched 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 revealed that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine. (NewsWire)

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The owner of a pharmaceutical company that had imported substandard stocks of Immune Globulin vaccines has been apprehended by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). 

The arrest comes after the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Monday (Oct 30) ordered the suspect and two other high-ranking state officials to be arrested over the incident.

The court had also imposed overseas travel bans on the owner of the pharmaceutical company and the two senior officials from the state health sector who had assisted him in importing the substandard medicines to Sri Lanka. 

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. (NewsWire)

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