Importing substandard medicine : Three former ministers report to CID
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.
