Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama has issued an order for former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today (2). This decision follows the banning of his foreign travel and labels him a liar for failing to attend the CID after being summoned on the 31st in connection with the immunoglobulin scam.
The Attorney General had previously instructed Rambukwella to appear before the CID on the 31st to provide a statement regarding the incident. However, he allegedly deliberately avoided giving the statement, prompting the order for his appearance today (02). Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, representing the Attorney General’s Department, informed the court about the request to ban Rambukwella’s foreign travel.
It was revealed that Rambukwella, attempting to enter as an aggrieved party in the case, cited commitments to a High Court case at 9:00 am on the 31st as a reason for his absence at the CID. However, it was pointed out that he left the court around 1:00 pm according to statements made with a journalist.
Rambukwella sent a letter to the CID on the same day, stating his inability to attend due to a meeting at the President’s office. Investigations ensued, revealing that the President’s Secretary informed in writing that the meeting was scheduled for 3:05 pm, but Rambukwella did not participate.
The court has taken note of Rambukwella’s deliberate defiance of the CID summons and issued an order for him to appear at 9:00 am today (02) to provide a statement, in accordance with Section 124 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Solicitor General has requested the court to issue an order to this effect.
