A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition was filed in the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (29) on behalf of former Health Minister and incumbent Government Parliamentarian Keheliya Rambukwella, who is currently in remand custody.

Rambukwella’s attorneys have filed the relevant petition challenging his arrest by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and demanding compensation of Rs. 100 million (m).

Rambukwella was arrested by the CID on 2 February, in connection with the procurement and import of substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) vials, when he arrived at the CID to give a statement in compliance with a Court order. He had been questioned for nearly 10 hours before being arrested.

Rambukwella was also produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court (MC), yesterday. On 15 February, Rambukwella and six others including former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha were remanded until yesterday on the orders of the Maligakanda MC. Prior to the apprehension of Rambukwella, several arrests had been made in connection with the drug procurement scam. But, the fifth suspect was later released on bail. As such, Chandraguptha, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division and three other officials of the same Division, as well as the owner of the company, which is said to have supplied the substandard batch of immunoglobulin vials, and a former Deputy Director of Health Services now remain in custody on remand.