Former Ministers Ramesh Pathirana, Roshan Ranasinghe and Prasanna Ranatunga have arrived at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) this morning (21 ), in order to supply declarations referring to the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vials.Meanwhile, previous Minister Harin Fernando has supposedly informed that he will appear before the CID tomorrow (22) to record a statement regarding the matter.On November 12, the Maligakanda Magistrates Court had actually bought to tape declarations from 18 then-Cabinet Ministers referring to the supposed importation of subpar human immunoglobulin vials.The Attorney Generals Department has notified the court that statements are needed to be gotten from 18 individuals consisting of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, previous Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, previous Ministers Tiran Alles, Mahinda Amaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Harin Fernando, Roshan Ranasinghe and Nimal Siripala who were members of the Cabinet which authorized the Cabinet paper provided already Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for the import of the controversial drugs in question.Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrema, who gave consent for the demand, ordered to record declarations from the 18 former Cabinet members associated to the matter.In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) revealed that forged documents were discovered to have been sent for Customs clearance to obtain a batch of vials including human immunoglobulin, an antibody produced by blood plasma cells, which later stopped working the quality tests.Prior to the apprehension of Rambukwella, 7 arrests had been made in connection with the declared drug procurement fraud.
However the fifth accused was later on released on bail.As such, the previous Health Secretary, previous Additional Health Secretary, the Director of the Health Ministrys Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and three other authorities of the same department, in addition to the owner of the company, which is stated to have supplied the low quality batch of immunoglobulin vials, were arrested and remanded over the case.Meanwhile, among the suspects in the event, former Deputy Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr.
Thusitha Sudarshana, was launched on bail when the case was formerly taken up on May 06.
On the other hand, the Court of Appeal on July 25 purchased the Maligakanda Magistrates Court to release on bail the previous Director of the Health Ministrys Medical Supplies Division, Dr.
Kapila Wickramanayake, who was likewise in remand custody.Accordingly, a total of 12 suspects had actually been detained and remanded over the case while presently all but among them are out on bail.
The first accused, the owner of the business that supplied the substandard drugs, Sudath Janaka Fernando is receiving treatment while under remand custody.Former Health Minister Kehliya Rambukwella, who was in remand custody for over 7 months, was released on bail on September 11, 2024.