The arrest came hours after Dr. Ratnayake arrived at the CID premises to provide a statement.Prior to the apprehension of Dr. Ratnayake, 8 arrests had been made in connection with the drug procurement scam. But the fifth accused was later released on bail.

As such, 7 suspects former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, the former Health Secretary, the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) and three other officials of the same division, as well as the owner of the company, which is said to have supplied the substandard batch of immunoglobulin vials, now remain in custody on remand.

They were produced before the court on Thursday (Feb.29) and further remanded until March 14 on the orders of the Maligakanda Magistrate