Colombo, Nov 22 (Daily  Mirror) - Former Minister Harin Fernando said that although he was caught up in the NPP's 'Shramadanaya' during the election, he was not "buried" and is determined to rise again.

He made the remarks after arriving at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide a statement regarding the substandard medicine scandal, including the import of a human immunoglobulin vaccine.

Responding to a question whether the previous Cabinet should be held responsible for the substandard medicines, he said that it was not the Cabinet Ministers' direct responsibility, as daily papers from around 60 to 70 Ministries were submitted to the Cabinet. 

"Ministry secretaries typically finalise and submit these papers. I had reviewed the papers relevant to my Ministry. But respecting the court's decision, I have come to provide the required details to the CID," he said.

Fernando also commented on the recent election loss, saying, "People have taught us a lesson, and we must learn how to rise again. We didn't run away during the crisis and will not shy away from this challenge." 

He acknowledged that the party had been "flattened to the ground" during the election, but emphasised that they were not buried. 

"We were caught in the NPP's 'Shramadanaya'. We should learn how to rise again," Fernando said.

In reference to the current government, he said, "They have cleaned the parliament. Now we see new faces and Ministers in the government."

Fernando had been summoned to the CID on November 21 but rescheduled his appearance for today due to being in Badulla. 

Meanwhile, former Ministers Ramesh Pathirana, Roshan Ranasinghe and Prasanna Ranatunga had appeared before the CID on Thursday in connection with the approval of a Cabinet Paper presented by then-Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

The CID informed the Maligakanda Magistrate on November 11 that it intends to record statements from 18 former Ministers, including former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, concerning the approval of another Cabinet Paper submitted by Rambukwella.