Colombo, August 4, 2025 — The Colombo High Court today announced that it will deliver its ruling on the bail application filed by Sudath Janaka Fernando—the first suspect in the high-profile substandard drug import case—on August 7.
Fernando, the owner of the pharmaceutical company accused of supplying substandard human immunoglobulin vials to state hospitals, has been in remand custody for nearly 18 months. The case is part of an ongoing trial heard before a Trial-at-Bar bench at the High Court, involving former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella and several others.
The order on Fernando’s bail application was originally expected today. However, High Court Judge Indrika Kalingawansa informed the court that the ruling will instead be issued this Wednesday.
In his petition to the High Court, Fernando argued that his multiple bail applications had been repeatedly rejected by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. He urged the High Court to reconsider his continued detention and override the lower court’s decisions, citing the prolonged period he has already spent in custody.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to its implications for public health safety and accountability within the healthcare procurement system. The allegations pertain to the importation and distribution of substandard immunoglobulin—a life-saving treatment used for various immune disorders—raising concerns over the quality control mechanisms in place for critical medical supplies.
The final decision on Fernando’s bail is now awaited, as the court continues to examine the legal and public interest dimensions of the case.
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