Attorney General objects to Keheliya’s bail request

• Order regarding  the preliminary objections was fixed for April 3

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Attorney General yesterday raised objections against  the bail application filed on behalf of former Health Minister Keheliya  Rambukwella, who is currently held in remand custody in connection with  the alleged import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections.  

Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama appearing for  the Attorney General informed the Court that she was raising preliminary  objections challenging the maintainability of the revision application  filed by the daughter of the former Health Minister.   

Filing a revision application, the former Health Minister’s  daughter Chaminthri Rambukwella is requesting the Colombo High Court  that her father be released on whatever bail conditions the court deems  fit.  
When the matter came up before High Court Judge Sujeewa  Nissanka, the Deputy Solicitor General moved court to dismiss the  revision application in limine on the basis that the petitioner has  failed to disclose all material facts to the court including  Magistrate’s court proceedings dated February 29, 2024.  

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne, appearing  for the petitioner, denied the allegations made by the Attorney General  and informed the Court that they have applied for a certified copy from  the Magistrate’s court, and they were yet to receive case proceedings. He  further said these facts have been mentioned in the revision  application. Taking into consideration the facts, the order regarding  the preliminary objections was fixed for April 3 by the Colombo High Court.     

In her application, Chaminthri Rambukwella alleged that the  Maligakanda Magistrate on a number of occasions refused to grant bail  to her father and made remand orders without reasonable grounds. The  Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on March 14 remanded Keheliya and ten  others till March 28 in connection with this incident.