The no-confidence motion (NCM), which is to be brought by the Opposition against former Health Minister and current Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, will be presented at the party leaders’ meeting this week, The Daily Morning learns.
The main Parliamentary Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) recently stated that it was planning to move an NCM against Rambukwella over his alleged involvement in the human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) deal. The previous NCM attempt against Rambukwella, then-Minister of Health, failed.
The former Health Minister was last week arrested in connection with the controversial IVIG deal, and remanded till 15 February.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, Freedom People’s Alliance (FPA) MP Wasantha Yapabandara, who has been working on the matter, said the relevant NCM was currently being signed by the MPs. “We are of the view that Rambukwella has no right to hold any Governmental position. We hope to present this motion to Parliament soon.
“I will move the NCM and SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana will second it. Before that, we need to present this at the party leaders’ meeting and obtain permission to present this to Parliament. We will present this at the meeting during the course of this week.”
A batch of IVIG had been suspended from use following the revelation that the local supplier named Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt.) Ltd. had imported it by submitting forged documents for Customs clearing. Several Government officials including former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha, Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Director Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, Assistant MSD Director Shanthi Solomon, MSD’s Accountant (Supplies) Niran Dhananjaya, and Pharmacist Sujith Kumara were arrested in connection with the incident and subsequently placed in remand custody.
With those arrests being made, several parties – including civil society organisations and trade unions – called for action against Rambukwella, who was the Health Minister at the time of the relevant incident. Last week, Maligakanda Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama imposed a foreign travel ban on him and ordered him to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to record a statement on Friday (2). He was grilled for nearly 10 hours, and was then arrested by the CID.
The SJB moved an NCM against Rambukwella in September 2023, and it was defeated after being taken up for a vote in Parliament on 8 September 2023. The NCM was presented by the Opposition over several issues in the health sector, including the shortage of pharmaceutical drugs and medical supplies and several deaths reported at Government hospitals due to the administration of substandard medication. During the vote, the NCM was defeated with 113 MPs voting against it and 73 voting in favour.