Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywikrema yesterday (11) ordered to record statements from 18 Ministers of the previous government, including then President Ranil Wickremesinghe and then Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, regarding the substandard drugs purchase case.
The Magistrate gave these orders when Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama requested the Court’s permission to record statements from former President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers regarding the approval to procure nearly 200 questionable medicinal drugs under emergency procurement by the Cabinet in 2022.
Accordingly, Court ordered statements to be recorded from former Cabinet Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Douglas Devananda, Susil Premajayantha, Bandula Gunawardhana, Mahinda Amaraweera, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Harin Fernando, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, Vidura Wickremenayake, Kanchana Wijesekera, Naseer Ahmed, Roshan Ranasinghe, Tiran Alles, Nalin Fernado and Jagath Pushpa Kumara in addition to the former President and Prime Minister.
The Court also ordered that the suspect Sudath Janaka, a supplier arrested in connection with the substandard drug supplies, to be further remanded until November 25.
(dailynews.lk)
(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
