October 26, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court has directed that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and three other respondents be released on bonds after they failed to settle the full compensation ordered in a case concerning the importation of substandard medicines into Sri Lanka. The court has also barred all four individuals from travelling overseas.
The decision followed a motion filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka, which alleged that Rambukwella and the other respondents had acted in contempt of court by failing to pay the compensation stipulated in an earlier ruling.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena issued the latest order after considering the matter.
In March this year, the Supreme Court ruled that fundamental human rights had been violated in connection with the process through which substandard medicines were imported during the previous administration. The court subsequently directed five respondents, including Rambukwella, to pay compensation.
Under that ruling, Rambukwella was ordered to pay Rs. 75 million. However, his lawyer informed the court that only Rs. 20 million of the required sum had been paid, leaving a substantial portion of the compensation outstanding.
The failure to settle the full amount prompted Transparency International Sri Lanka to seek the court’s intervention, arguing that the respondents had not complied with the compensation order.
Following consideration of the application, the Supreme Court ordered the release of Rambukwella and three other respondents on bonds, while imposing restrictions preventing them from leaving the country.
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