Ex-Health Minister Fined Rs. 75M Over Rights Violation

COLOMBO(News 1st); The Supreme Court has ruled that former and several others violated fundamental rights by purchasing health supplies from an unregistered company under the Indian Credit Scheme in 2022.

The judgment orders former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukkuwella to pay Rs. 75 million to the government from his personal funds.

In addition, the then Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Janaka Chandragupta, and the former Chairman of the National Drug Regulatory Authority, Professor S.D. Jayaratne, have each been ordered to pay Rs. 50 million to the government.

The court also directed Dr. Vijith Gunasekara, CEO of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and Dr. Thusitha Sudarshana, former Director of the Medical Supplies Division, to pay Rs. 50 million as compensation.

The three-judge Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman, delivered the judgment after hearing a fundamental rights petition filed by two parties, including Transparency International Sri Lanka.