Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama has ordered the remand of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella until February 15th. The former Minister, who is currently serving as the Minister of Environment, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on yesterday (02) and presented before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today (03).
The court had issued a flight ban and ordered Rambukwella to appear before it after he deliberately lied and avoided reporting to the CID. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on Rambukwella for not cooperating with the CID on Thursday (01).
Rambukwella had been called to the CID on January 30 for questioning regarding the vaccine-related incident in question but requested another date, citing a case in the Colombo High Court and a meeting at the President’s Secretariat. However, the Deputy Solicitor General revealed that investigations showed he did not participate in the mentioned meeting.
The ongoing investigations into the vaccine crime have already resulted in the arrest and remand of several individuals, including Sugath Janaka Fernando (owner of the company involved), Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake (former director of the Medical Supplies Division), Shantini Solomon (Assistant Director of the Medical Supplies Division), Neran Dhananjaya (Accountant of the Medical Supplies Division), and Sujith Kumar (Stock Controller of the Medical Supplies Division).
