News
Keheliya’s petition and bail appeal: Court of Appeal decision on Aug. 9
The Court of Appeal will deliver its decision on August 09 in respect of the petition filed by former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, seeking an order to invalidate the Maligakanda Magistrate’s order remanding him until the end of the trial over the alleged procurement of fake cancer drugs.
The court will also address his bail application on the same date. This decision was previously expected to be delivered on August 01.
The CID arrested Rambukwella on February 02 over his alleged complicity in the procurement of substandard IVIG vials.
In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) disclosed that forged documents had been submitted for Customs clearance to procure a batch of vials containing human immunoglobulin, an antibody produced by blood plasma cells, which later failed the quality tests.
Prior to the apprehension of Rambukwella, seven arrests had been made in connection with the drug procurement scam. But the fifth accused was later released on bail.
As such, the former Health Secretary, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and three other officials of the same division, as well as the owner of the company, which is said to have supplied the substandard batch of immunoglobulin vials, are in remand custody.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects who was arrested and remanded in connection with the case was released on bail when the case was previously taken up on May 06.
Accordingly, the former Deputy Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. Thusitha Sudarshana had been released on bail.
On July 25, the Court of Appeal ordered the Maligakanda
Magistrate’s Court to release on bail the former Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, who was also in remand custody.
The Court of Appeal had issued the order to the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court to release Dr. Wickramanayake under suitable bail conditions, after considering a writ petition filed by his attorneys.
Latest News
Cabinet approves submission of the orders imposed under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 for the concurrence of the Parliament.
The charges to be paid when obtaining a license for import of fertilizer, manufacturing or processing under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 has been declared by the orders published in the extraordinary gazette No. 1683/5 dated 06.12.2010.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 05.02.2024 in order to timely amend the declared charges by the said orders. Accordingly, the orders formulated by the Legal Draftsman has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2398/13 dated 20.08.2024.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to submit those order for the concurrence of the Parliament as per the provisions of the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988.
Due to the considerable time spent on following the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act No. 09 of 1950, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-01-2021 to amend the said Land Acquisition Act appropriate to the current requirement so that the time taken for the process of acquisition of lands can be minimized, lands can be acquired under a simple procedure, and the compensation can be paid under a unified procedure. The initial draft has been prepared for that purpose, and the legal draftsman has informed that the policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers should be taken for the completion of the activities of the preparation of the draft.
Accordingly, taking into consideration the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare the draft promptly.
Since the procedures that should be followed in obtaining and managing foreign debts are covered by the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024, the Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all the amendments thereto should be cancelled. The policy agreement has been provided at the cabinet meeting held on 09-12-2024 for that purpose. The clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the Foreign Debt (Abolishment) Draft prepared by the draftsman.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to publish the said draft in the Government Gazette and thereafter to present it to the Parliament for approval.
Cabinet approves submission of the orders imposed under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 for the concurrence of the Parliament.
Cabinet nod to amend Land Acquisition Act No.09 of 1950
Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all amendments thereto to be repealed
-
Business5 days agoCargoserv Shipping partners Prima Ceylon & onboards Nestlé Lanka for landmark rail logistics initiative
-
News3 days agoSeniors welcome three percent increase in deposit rates
-
Features3 days agoThe US, Israel, Palestine, and Mahmoud Khalil
-
News3 days agoScholarships for children of estate workers now open
-
Business5 days agoSri Lankans Vote Dialog as the Telecommunication Brand and Service Brand of the Year
-
News4 days agoDefence Ministry of Japan Delegation visits Pathfinder Foundation
-
Features5 days agoThe Vaping Veil: Unmasking the dangers of E-Cigarettes
-
News5 days ago‘Deshabandu is on SLC payroll’; Hesha tables documents