While investigating the fraud of crores of rupees and putting the lives of patients in unsafe conditions by distributing the substandard antibody vaccine called ‘Immunoglobin’ used for neurological patients to government hospitals, the substandard antibody vaccine called ‘Ritoxinan’ used for cancer patients was imported worth crores of rupees. Deputy Solicitor General Miss Lakmini Girihagama, who appeared for the prosecution, informed Maligakanda Magistrate Ms Lochani Abeywickrama Weerasinghe that a case of fraud of nearly 11 sums has been revealed. Sri Lanka Latest News
It has been reported that the company ‘Isolate Biotech Pharma’, which distributes the substandard antibody vaccine called ‘Immunoglobin’ used for nerve patients in government hospitals, has defrauded nearly 11 crore rupees by importing the substandard antibody vaccine called ‘Ritoxinan’ used for cancer patients. Miss Lakmini Girihagama who informed that the disclosure has been made also informed that the former Secretary of the Ministry of Health has personally sent a note in the tender sheet in his handwriting to release the relevant amount of 11 crore rupees to the company.
The Magistrate accepted the request of the Deputy Solicitor General Miss Lakmini Girihagama, who appeared for the complaint, to issue warrants against the Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Regulatory Authority for not appearing in court in accordance with the order to appear in court in relation to the investigations regarding this incident and ordered CID to immediately arrest him and produce in the court. She also issued a warrant for that.
Mr. Sugath Janaka Fernando, the owner of the company ‘Ausulate Biotech Pharma’, who is said to have brought the substandard drugs who are remanded in connection with the incident when the complaint was called, Mr. Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, Director of the Medical Supply Division, Mr. Shantini Solomon, Assistant Director, Accountant (Supply) Neran Dhananjaya. and Mr. and Mrs. Sujith Kumar, stock controller, were presented to the court by the prison officials.
Requesting to conduct an investigation regarding the fraud of crores of rupees and putting the patient’s life in an unsafe condition by importing substandard antibody vaccine called ‘Immunoglobin’ which is used for neurological patients and distributing it to the government hospitals of the island by preparing fake documents from the loan money given under the Indian loan scheme. Chief Inspector Jayantha of the CID presented to the court a report showing the progress of the investigations regarding a complaint made by the Citizens’ Force Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste and the Coalition of Civil Organisations.
Sub-Inspector Yalewatta, who appeared with CID Chief Inspector Jayantha, presented the five suspects who were arrested to the court based on the facts revealed in the investigations related to the incident and presented a 07-page report showing the progress of the investigations regarding them.
