COLOMBO: Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has told the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that the Cabinet paper linked to the controversial emergency drug procurement process was submitted by former Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, not by him.

Rambukwella made the claim while delivering a lengthy statement from the dock during the ongoing trial concerning the procurement of substandard Human Immunoglobulin injections.

The case relates to allegations that substandard medicines were supplied to the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health through a fraudulent procurement process.

According to the Attorney General's indictment, 12 individuals are facing charges under 13 indictments, including conspiracy and the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 144.4 million in public funds.

The prosecution alleges that 6,195 vials supplied as Human Immunoglobulin and Rituximab contained substances that were not the medicines they were claimed to be.

Rambukwella, who is the eighth accused in the case, maintained that the controversial Cabinet paper was submitted by Wickremesinghe, who was serving as Finance Minister and Prime Minister at the time.

The trial before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has now concluded the oral testimony of the accused.

According to the court schedule, written submissions are expected to be presented on November 25, followed by oral submissions on November 30.

The court is expected to fix a date for the verdict after hearing the submissions from both sides.

The case remains significant as it concerns alleged irregularities in emergency medicine procurement and the accountability of those involved in the process.