Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested on 2 February, for his involvement in procuring unregistered medicines, including the Immunoglobulin IV 5g drug, from India. Subsequently, he was remanded following widespread public outcry and activism marking it a historic moment, since it’s the first time a sitting Cabinet Minister has been arrested in Sri Lanka.
Despite numerous allegations against other prominent figures, many have managed to evade legal consequences. Shocking reports about medicines administered in State-run hospitals instilled fear among the public, deterring them from seeking medical care. Today, Rambukwella’s arrest stands as a powerful lesson that the public would demand accountability and justice in safeguarding their health and well-being and win over such individuals.