During the hearing of the case regarding the distribution of substandard antibody vaccines, President’s lawyer Anuj Premaratne urged the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court to grant bail to former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, citing a serious risk of him becoming fully disabled if he remains in jail.
Premaratne argued that Rambukwella, who is not receiving adequate medical treatment in government hospitals, might become totally disabled, rendering bail ineffective if not granted soon. He requested that Rambukwella be released on suitable bail terms to allow him to access proper medical care.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, representing the prosecution, suggested that bail could be considered after consulting a panel of experts and reviewing their reports. Following this, the magistrate ordered that Rambukwella be examined by a board of experts and a swift report be submitted.
In a related decision, the Maligakanda Magistrate directed that Sudath Janaka Fernando Angoda, the owner of the pharmaceutical company and the first suspect in the case, be referred to the National Institute of Mental Health. This was based on evidence presented by Fernando’s lawyer, who reported his client’s severe mental disorder and suicide attempt in prison.
Additionally, Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe ordered that Rambukwella be presented to a medical panel, including a specialist from the Colombo National Hospital, as part of an ongoing case related to the alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure as the Minister of Media in 2015. The case involves the alleged misappropriation of 990,000 rupees for the purchase of 600 GI pipes.
