Former ministers Ramesh Pathirana, Roshan Ranasinghe and Prasanna Ranatunga have arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning (21), to give statements regarding the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vials.

Meanwhile, former minister Harin Fernando has reportedly informed that he will appear before the CID tomorrow (22) to record a statement regarding the matter.

On November 12, the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court had ordered to record the statements of 18 then ministers regarding the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin bottles.

The Attorney General’s Department has informed the court that statements must be obtained from 18 people, including former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, former ministers Tiran Alles, Mahinda Amaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Harin Fernando, Roshan Ranasinghe and Nimal Siripala who were members of the cabinet which approved the government document presented by the then Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella for the importation of the controversial drugs in question.

Magistrate Maligakanda Lochani Abeywickrema, who granted permission for the request, ordered to record the statements of the 18 former cabinet members related to the case.

In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) revealed that forged documents were found to have been submitted for customs clearance to procure a batch of vials containing human immunoglobulin, an antibody produced by blood plasma cells, which later failed quality tests.

Before Rambukwella’s arrest, seven arrests had been made in connection with the alleged drug procurement scam. But the fifth accused was later released on bail.

As such, the former Health Secretary, the former Additional Health Secretary, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and three other officials of the same division, as well as the owner of the company, which is said to have supplied substandard batches of immunoglobulin bottles, were arrested and remanded in custody for the case.

Meanwhile, one of the suspects in the case, former deputy director of the medical supplies department of the health ministry, Dr Thusitha Sudarshana, was released on bail when the case was taken up earlier on May 6.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal on July 25 ordered the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court to release the former director of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Supply Department, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, on bail, who was also in custody.

Consequently, a total of 12 suspects had been arrested and remanded in custody for the case while all but one are currently out on bail. The first accused, the owner of the company that supplied the substandard drugs, Sudath Janaka Fernando is receiving treatment while in custody.

Former Minister of Health Kehliya Rambukwella, who was detained for over seven months, was released on bail on 11 September 2024.