The Colombo High Court has issued an order preventing the occupation of two luxury apartments in Colombo 3, Kollupitiya, owned by Ramith Rambukwella, son of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The ruling, made by High Court Judge Manjula Tillekaratne, follows a request from the Bribery Commission.
The properties in question are located on the 10th and 11th floors of the Capital Residencies Apartments on Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7.
This legal action comes amid growing controversy surrounding Keheliya Rambukwella, who is currently embroiled in a major scandal involving the procurement of substandard medicines. As Sri Lanka’s former health minister, Rambukwella is accused of misleading the Cabinet about an impending health sector crisis to justify the purchase of inferior human immunoglobulin (IVIG) from Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt.) Ltd.
An investigation revealed that the drugs were of poor quality and caused adverse effects on patients, leading to numerous complaints from hospitals. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) launched an inquiry into the matter, which uncovered that approximately $465,000 was spent on counterfeit drugs through an emergency procurement system established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rambukwella, along with several associates, was remanded in custody as part of the investigation. Although he was granted bail on September 11, 2024, the case has raised serious concerns about corruption and malpractice in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system.
The Bribery Commission’s move to block the use of these luxury apartments is seen as part of the broader investigation into the former minister’s activities.
