The Attorney General Yesterday (26) filed indictments before a special three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar in Colombo against former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 11 other accused over the fraudulent purchase of substandard immunoglobulin and rituximab vaccines worth Rs. 1.45 billion.
The case involves the alleged submission of forged documents under an Indian loan scheme to import the vaccines for distribution to government hospitals. These vaccines—used for neurological and cancer patients—were reportedly purchased without proper standards.
Thirteen indictments have been filed, including accusations of misappropriation of public funds and conspiracy to misuse Rs. 144.4 million by delivering 6,195 bottles of non-medicinal substances labeled as medicine to the Ministry of Health.
The witness list includes nearly 350 individuals, among them former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and several former Cabinet Ministers such as Nimal Siripala de Silva, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Douglas Devananda, and Roshan Ranasinghe.
Also named are Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Chairman of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and a team of other medical professionals.
Approximately 300 items of evidence have been submitted. Given the high public interest, the Chief Justice appointed a special Trial-at-Bar comprising Judges Mahesh Weeraman, Pradeep Abeyratne, and Amali Ranawira to hear the case.
