27 December 2023 09:23 am Views - 145
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday recorded a statement from former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in the wake of concerns that the recent arrests made by the CID in connection with the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections are only targeting lower-level individuals, while the masterminds behind the scandal remain at large.
Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that a group of CID officers visited Minister Rambukwella’s residence in Colombo yesterday morning to record the statement in connection with the import of substandard human Immunoglobulin to the country.
Last week, former Health Minister Rambukwella said that he was the first complainant regarding the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections and that there was no need to record a statement from him.
He said that if the CID deems it necessary to obtain more details regarding his complaint, he was ready for that.
Earlier, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that former Health Minister Rambukwella will be arrested if there is concrete evidence that the latter had been involved in the importation of substandard drugs.
The CID earlier arrested several persons regarding the incident including former Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Sri Chandragupta. The CID sent a special team to the Health Ministry to seal the offices of Additional Secretary Saman Ratnayake and commenced investigating documents there following a court order.
Accordingly, files related to the case, including those seized from the office of Saman Ratnayake, have been forwarded to the Government Analyst’s Department.
Earlier, Opposition MPs and health trade union representatives stressed the potential involvement of key figures, such as the former minister, health secretary, and National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) officials, in this high-profile case amid CID investigations.