There have been reports of severe financial misconduct in Sri Lanka related to purchasing low-quality antibody vaccines using government funds. The country is alleged to have suffered a loss of over 1500 lakh rupees due to this incident.
Keheliya Rambukwella, the former Minister of Health in charge of this transaction, has been arrested and is currently in custody. Additionally, six other suspects who held positions in the Ministry of Health at the time of the incident were arrested and in custody for their alleged involvement.
A historic decision
Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama recently issued an order regarding a fraud case. After reviewing the bail requests submitted by the suspects, the judge ordered that they not be granted bail until the trial of this fraud is over.
The charges against these suspects are related to the Public Property Act. The Magistrate explained that when a suspect of the Public Property Act is brought to court and remanded in custody, it is essential to present notable facts for their release on bail.
As investigations related to the suspects are still ongoing and no specific facts have been presented to grant them bail, the Magistrate rejected their bail requests.
Catching a thief
The judgement has stirred up strong emotions amongst Sri Lankans, as seen in the passionate messages exchanged on social media. It’s no secret that the citizens of a country plagued by political fraud and corruption are simmering with anger.
During election campaigns, slogans promising justice for thieves and recovering stolen wealth are often shouted. Unfortunately, politicians quickly forget these promises once they are elected. This has been the pattern of political activism in post-independence Sri Lanka.
Thieves are never caught; even those suspected of thieves can participate in politics without consequences.
Credibility is built on the judiciary
In a recent incident, the actions of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella have played a crucial role in establishing trust in the judiciary. The public is still waiting for a fair trial.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe took measures to remove Keheliya Rambukwella from his position as the Minister of Health and appointed him as the Minister of Environment due to his involvement in fraud. At the same time, he was the Minister of Health.
However, following the allegations presented, the Criminal Investigation Department took action to arrest Keheliya Rambukwella while he was serving as the Minister of Environment. After he was produced in court, he was remanded in custody.
As a result, Keheliya Rambukwella was the first cabinet minister in Sri Lanka’s history to be remanded while holding office. This is why this case is significant.
He was arrested concerning the investigation into importing the human ‘Immunoglobulin’ vaccine. As part of the enquiry into the Human Immunoglobulin injection incident, Saman Ratnayake, an additional secretary of the Ministry of Health, and five other senior officials were also arrested and remanded in custody on supervisory orders.
Keheliya misled the cabinet
The Deputy Solicitor General, Lakmini Girihagama, provided an update on the ongoing investigations to the court. According to Girihagama, the State Medicines Legal Corporation imports medicines in Sri Lanka.
However, it was found that the suspected minister had bypassed this standard procedure and purchased the medication outside of it. The minister had submitted four cabinet memoranda to import this stock of medicine.
The minister claimed that 182 types of medicines were not available in Sri Lanka, and some types would only be available for the next three months.
Girihagama stated that Keheliya Rambukwella had misled the Council of Ministers by falsely claiming a potential shortage of medicines. The World Health Organization had already agreed to provide the necessary drugs to Sri Lanka.
The Magistrate pointed out in court that the President appointed the suspect as the Minister of Health to improve public health. The Magistrate emphasised that the suspect, Keheliya Rambukwella, had been assigned the responsibility and accountability of acting as the guardian of public health. Therefore, he could not deny knowledge of this matter.
