Keheliya Released on Bail After Court Reviews Compensation Dispute

Daily Mirror, Newswire, Newsfirst, Sri Lanka Mirror, WhatNews, Hiru News and Ada Derana report that the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and other respondents in proceedings linked to compensation for the importation of substandard medicines. Newswire says the order followed consideration of a motion filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), which alleged the respondents had failed to comply with the court’s compensation order.

Newswire and Sri Lanka Mirror report that the Supreme Court had ruled in March 2026 that fundamental rights were violated through the importation of substandard medicines during the previous government, and directed five respondents, including Rambukwella, to pay compensation. Newswire says Rambukwella was ordered to pay Rs. 75 million and that his lawyer told the court he had paid Rs. 20 million so far.

Newswire and Newsfirst identify former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta among the respondents. Newswire says the latest order was issued by a three-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena; Sri Lanka Mirror describes the bench as a Trial-at-Bar bench under the same chief justice.

Newswire and Newsfirst report that Rambukwella and three other respondents were released on bonds. Sri Lanka Mirror and WhatNews report that five respondents were released on bond, alongside the travel restrictions. The available reports do not give further details on the terms of the bonds or a subsequent court date.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.