On September 11, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, along with two other significant figures in the case involving the distribution of substandard antibody vaccines in Sri Lankan hospitals, was granted bail by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. Rambukwella, who had been remanded for over six months, is among the eight suspects in the high-profile case. The other two suspects released on bail are former Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health, Herath Kumar, and former CEO of the National Drug Regulatory Authority, Dr. Vijith Gunasekara.
The court’s decision was heavily influenced by medical reports indicating severe health issues among the suspects. The Government Medical Board’s report revealed that the suspects, including Rambukwella, were suffering from significant mental health conditions and were at risk of suicide. These conditions were exacerbated by their imprisonment. Rambukwella’s legal representative argued that the prison hospital lacked adequate facilities to address his client’s mental health issues, including suicidal tendencies and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The defense stressed that Rambukwella’s condition could worsen, potentially leading to permanent disability.
In response, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, representing the Attorney General, opposed the bail request. She noted that the medical reports provided were outdated, dating back to 2019, and questioned the relevance of the current medical conditions of the suspects. Girihagama suggested that if Rambukwella’s condition was indeed severe, he should be transferred to the Colombo National Hospital or Angoda National Psychiatric College under judicial supervision for appropriate treatment.
The magistrate took into account Rambukwella’s significant health issues and the lengthy period he had been in custody. It was also noted that his condition was deteriorating, which played a crucial role in the decision to grant bail. Bail was set at 100,000 rupees for each of the suspects, reflecting the severity of their health conditions as outlined in the medical reports.
Suspect Sudath Janaka Fernando, who is receiving treatment at Angoda Psychiatric Clinic, was not presented in court. The magistrate ordered that Janaka’s medical reports be submitted by September 14 and that he be brought to court once he is fit to attend. Out of the 11 suspects remanded, 10 have now been released on bail. The case, which involves a complaint by Kamantha Thushara, President of the Citizen Power Against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste organization, and other civil groups, alleges that the distribution of these substandard vaccines endangered lives and caused significant financial loss to the government.
The court’s decision reflects a balance between the severity of the charges and the pressing health concerns of the suspects, while the investigation into the alleged malpractice continues.
