COLOMBO, Feb 3 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka’s former Health Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, was arrested yesterday, for his alleged involvement in the procurement of fake human immunoglobulin vials, police said in a statement.
The former minister is scheduled to appear before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court, today.
Several suspects, including former Secretary to the Health Ministry, Janaka Chandragupta were later arrested in connection with the scandal, pending further investigations, local media reported.
Last year, it was revealed by trade unions and media outlets that, the health ministry had awarded a contract to a Sri Lankan private company to procure 22,500 vials of human immunoglobulin at a total value of 2,925,000 U.S. dollars.
However, subsequent laboratory reports revealed that, there were no “detectable levels” of immunoglobulin in the counterfeit human immunoglobulin consignment, purchased and paid for by the Health Ministry.
The reports also revealed that the medication, some of which was administered to patients in government hospitals, was not sterile and contained bacterial endotoxins, local media reported.– NNN-XINHUA
