Following an application for contempt of court filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) on 12 October 2026, the Supreme Court made directions on the failure of respondents in a medical procurement case to comply with its judgment requiring payment of Rs. 275 million in total, to the State.
The proceedings arise from the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered in case SC/FR/65/2023 on the 27 of March 2026, which found that five respondents; including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, former Health Secretary S. J. S. Chandraguptha, and three other senior officials had infringed the fundamental right to equal protection of the law guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The Court ordered the former Minister to pay Rs. 75 million to the State and each of the other four respondents to pay Rs. 50 million.
TISL subsequently moved the Supreme Court for contempt proceedings, alleging wilful disobedience of the judgment and seeking appropriate action since the payments remained outstanding seven months after the judgement was delivered.
At the hearing on Monday, the third respondent, former National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairman Prof. S. D. Jayaratne submitted to Court that the payment of Rs. 50 million has been made on 22 October, following the filing of TISL’s contempt application.
The remaining respondents undertook to make payments in the following manner:
*The first respondent, Rambukwella, made a payment of Rs. 20 million on 23 October 2026 and gave an undertaking to pay the outstanding balance of Rs. 55 million within two weeks.
*The second respondent, Chandraguptha, gave an undertaking to pay Rs. 5 million within a week and to settle the remaining Rs. 45 million within three months.
*The fourth respondent, former Chief Executive Officer of the NMRA Dr. Vijith Gunasekara gave an undertaking to pay Rs. 20 million within two weeks and the remaining Rs. 30 million within three months.
*The fifth respondent, former Medical Supplies Division Director Dr. A. Thusitha Sudharshana gave an undertaking to pay all his savings amounting to approximately Rs. 2 million within this week and to settle the outstanding balance of Rs. 48 million within three months.
The Supreme Court, while directing the first, second, fourth and fifth respondents to pay the total amounts due within three months, imposed travel bans on all four respondents.
The Court ordered that they be enlarged on bail with each subject to a cash bond of Rs. 50 million and two sureties who must establish their capacity to pay the specified amount. The respondents were directed to fulfil the bail conditions within one week.
By bringing the non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s payment order before the Court, TISL sought to ensure that the Court’s orders were respected and that appropriate action was taken in response to their continued failure to be held accountable.
TISL emphasises that compliance with judicial orders is fundamental to the rule of law and constitutional accountability. Such compliance must not be dependent on the petitioner’s ability to initiate further proceedings in Court.
TISL further emphasises the following realities to those in positions of public power; their actions carry ethical and legal obligations towards the public they serve. Consequences of corruption carries long-term legal ramifications and permanent reputational harm. Civil Society Organisations and accountability actors will continue to actively monitor decisions to ensure strict adherence to legal frameworks and accountability standards.
Senior Counsel Senany Dayaratne with Attorneys-at-Law Lasanthika Hettiarachchi, Nishadi Wickramasinghe, Janani Abeywickrema and Maheshika Bandara appeared for TISL, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Thushari Jayawardena. The matter is fixed to be taken up on 15 February 2027.