The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court has issued a notice to the Director Board of Asiri Hospitals, ordering them to appear before open courts today (Feb. 21).

This is with regard to a case where the hospital had previously pleaded guilty to selling 11 drugs beyond the MRP set as per the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act.

Notice has been issued to all 11 respondents in the case which includes the group’s directors – Vishal Bali, Ashoka Kariyawasam Pathirage, Ankur Nand Thadani, Karunamuni Manjula Prasanna Karunaratne, Sudarshan Ahangama, Gardiyar Lokuge Harris Premaratne, Sivakumar Sellaiya, Haresh Kumar Kaimal and Ajith Karunaratne as well as Assistant Billing Manager – B.D. Sadathisaru.

The Maligakanda Magistrate – Ms. Lochani Abeywickrama had issued notice to the respondents, rejecting the objection of the defense lawyers.

When this case had been called before the Acting Magistrate on Jan. 17th, neither the aggrieved party nor the NMRA, which was the plaintiff in this case had been present while the defendant had failed to inform of their motion before the scheduled date.

Accordingly, the Acting Magistrate had not received the opportunity to listen to both parties on the relevant date.

Noting all this, Justice Abeywickrama had said that therefore the verdict by the Acting Magistrate is legally flawed and the court is of the opinion that the case cannot be considered as closed since the defendants of this case are yet to appear before court.

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