(Lanka-e-News -13.Nov.2024, 10.45 pm) The Maligakanda Magistrate, Lochani Abeywickrama Weerasinghe, day before yesterday (11) granted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) permission to question former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and 18 other ministers who approved a fraudulent cabinet paper presented by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. This paper, submitted in September 2022, facilitated the import of 182 types of drugs under the Indian loan scheme amid a manufactured drug shortage.
In addition to Wickremesinghe and Gunawardena, those who served as cabinet ministers at the time and will be questioned include: Nimal Siripala (Ports, Shipping, and Aviation), Douglas Devananda (Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), Susil Premajayantha (Education), Bandula Gunawardena (Transport and Highways), Mahinda Amaraweera (Agriculture and Plantations), Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (Justice), Harin Fernando (Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth), Ramesh Pathirana (Health), Prasanna Ranatunga (Urban Development), Vidura Wickramanayake (Buddhism and Cultural Affairs), Kanchana Wijesekera (Power and Energy), Naseer Ahamed (Environment), Roshan Ranasinghe (Sports and Youth Affairs), Tiran Alles (Public Security), Nalin Fernando (Trade and Commerce), and Jagath Pushpakumara (Labor and Foreign Employment).
The court's order was based on Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama’s request for an investigation into the importation of unsafe medications for critical patients. The case concerns allegations of fraud worth millions of rupees, where, under the guise of addressing a drug shortage, the ministry imported unapproved drugs for use in government hospitals. These include “Immunoglobulin” for neurological conditions and “Rituximab” for cancer patients.
Despite the cabinet approval of the import paper on September 26, 2022, there was no specific list of required drugs or evidence of an actual shortage. The Deputy Solicitor General pointed out this lack of documentation as grounds for questioning the cabinet ministers involved.
Among the suspects in this case are Sugath Janaka Fernando, owner of the importing company AYSULATE Biotech Pharma; Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake (Director of Medical Supplies Division); Shanthini Soloman (Deputy Director); Niran Dhananjaya (Accountant, Supplies); Sujith Kumara (Stock Controller); Janaka Sri Chandragupta (former Secretary of the Ministry of Health); Dr. Dharma Siri Ratnakumara Herath (Deputy Director General); and former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Additional suspects include Jayant Butpitiya and Dr. Saman Rathnayake, who were involved in the emergency procurement process, though both are now abroad.
The CID's report on this investigation was presented to the court by Chief Police Inspector Jayanta Payagala and Assistant Police Inspector Laksiri, following a complaint from Kamantha Tushara, chair of the Citizens' Movement Against Corruption and Waste, and a coalition of civil organizations.
Courtesy LankaTruth
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by (2024-11-13 21:55:12)
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