Former health secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta, arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on charges related to immunoglobulin injections, was remanded until the 27th of December. The Magistrate, Lochani Abeywickrama, also ordered the sealing of the office of additional secretary, Saman Ratnayake, yesterday (18).
Following the sealing of Saman Ratnayake’s office, the Magistrate directed the examination of all documents under her custody. The CID informed the court that Chandragupta violated procurement processes, ignored Cabinet decisions, and used the Finance Act illegally.
Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama expressed suspicion about the procurement of blood plasma from the National Blood Bank for the immunoglobulin vaccine, instructing the CID to investigate. Lawyers for the aggrieved party requested the arrest of the former health secretary, claiming he had authority over the drug procurement process.
In a previous case, the Magistrate ordered the CID to submit a report regarding the suspected ex-secretary. Sugath Janaka Fernando, owner of Isolated Bio Tech Pharma Company, Kapila Wickramanayake, Shantini Seleman, Neran Dhananjaya, and Sujith Kumara are under remand in connection with the immunoglobulin scandal.
