The Supreme Court today (27) ruled that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and a group of officials violated fundamental rights by purchasing health supplies from an unregistered company in 2022 in violation of procurement laws. The procurement of these medicines was done under an Indian loan.
The Supreme Court gave this ruling after hearing fundamental rights petitions filed by several parties including Transparency International Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the judgment states that former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella must pay Rs. 75 million to the government from his personal money. Also, former Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Chandragupta must pay Rs. 50 million, former NMRA Chairman Professor S.D. Jayaratne: Rs. 50 million, NMRA CEO Dr. Vijith Gunasekara and former Director of the Medical Supplies Division Dr. Thusitha Sudarshana must pay Rs. 50 million each to the government, the order states.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena gave this ruling.