The Special High Court Trial-at-Bar today (16) ordered the release of 12 defendants, including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, on strict bail conditions in connection with the alleged counterfeit medicine scandal.
Each defendant was granted bail on a cash deposit of Rs. 500,000 and two surety bonds of Rs. 500,000.
The Attorney General filed indictments against the accused for conspiring to embezzle Rs. 144.4 million in government funds by supplying 6,195 vials of non-medicinal substances—presented as Human Immunoglobulin and Rituximab—to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry. They are also charged with criminal misappropriation of the funds.
The case was taken before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Mahen Weeraman, Amali Ranaweera, and Pradeep Abeyratne.
Among the accused are Sudath Janaka Fernando, owner of the controversial pharmaceutical company; former Medical Supplies Division Director Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake; Assistant Director Shanthini Solomon; Accountant Neran Dhananjaya; Stock Controller Sujith Kumara; and former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta.
Others include Deputy Director General of the Medical Supply Unit Dr. H.M.D.R. Herath; Procurement Committee member Dr. Jayanath Buthpitiya; Additional Secretary Dr. Saman Ratnayake; Medical Supply Unit Director Dr. Arambegedara Thusitha Sudarshana; and former Drug Regulatory Authority CEO Dr.Vijith Gunasekara.
CID officers transported the case documents to court in a small lorry due to the large volume involved.
The first defendant, Sudath Janaka Fernando—who has been in remand custody—was produced in court by prison authorities. The ninth accused, Dr. Jayanath Buthpitiya, did not appear as he is reportedly abroad. The indictments were served on the remaining 11 accused in open court.
Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, appearing for the Attorney General, objected to bail, stressing that the AG represents the public and the victim, and that a fair trial must be ensured. She argued that the circumstances cited earlier in the Magistrate’s Court to secure bail were no longer valid, and that the sheer volume of documents was not a reason to grant bail.
Counsel for the defense, including President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne and attorneys Nalin Ladduwahetti, Priyantha Navana, and Sarath Jayamanne, argued that re-imprisoning the accused was unnecessary since bail had already been granted at the Magistrate’s Court stage.
After a brief adjournment, the bench ordered all 12 defendants released on bail. Fernando, who had spent one year, eight months, and 10 days in remand, was also released upon fulfilling bail conditions.
The case will be taken up again on October 31.
