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Event

Contempt application over unpaid Supreme Court payments, October 2026

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Details

Court

Supreme Court, case SC/Contempt/09/2026

Allegation

Failure by five respondents to pay a total of Rs. 275 million ordered in the 27 March 2026 judgment: Rs. 75 million from Keheliya Rambukwella and Rs. 50 million each from four former health officials

Status

Filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka on 13 October 2026. Taken up on 26 October 2026 by a bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, which released Rambukwella and other respondents on bonds and imposed an overseas travel ban; outlets differ on how many respondents each order covered. Rambukwella’s counsel said he had paid Rs. 20 million of his Rs. 75 million. Daily Mirror and Daily FT report the respondents were given three months to pay, and Daily FT says Rambukwella undertook to pay the balance of Rs. 55 million within two weeks

Appears on

Politicians and investigators

Last checked

28 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (3)

• Keheliya Rambukwella / Respondent in / Contempt application over unpaid Supreme Court payments, October 2026Allegation
  • Transparency International Sri Lanka says he and four former senior health officials failed to pay the sums ordered in the 27 March 2026 judgment, including his Rs. 75 million, and alleges this is wilful disobedience of the court’s orders. It says it confirmed with the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Health that no payments had been made. The article reports no response from the respondents.13 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Keheliya & 4 former health officials face contempt action over unpaid Rs. 275 million
  • The 27 March judgment ordered him to pay Rs. 75 million to the state, and three other officials, former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, NMRA Chairman Prof. S.D. Jayaratne and NMRA Chief Executive Dr. Vijith Gunasekara, Rs. 50 million each, for violating fundamental rights in the procurement of medicines. The petition alleges the respondents are in contempt of court for failing to comply. The article reports no response from the respondents.14 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Petition filed against Keheliya Rambukwella and others for alleged contempt of Court
  • The Supreme Court ordered him and three other respondents released on bonds and barred them from leaving the country, after considering Transparency International Sri Lanka’s motion. His attorney told the court he had paid Rs. 20 million of the Rs. 75 million ordered. The order was delivered by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.26 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Court orders foreign travel ban on ex-minister Keheliya Rambukwella
  • Reports the same order on bonds and the overseas travel ban for him and three other respondents, and names former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Chandragupta among the four.26 Oct 2026 · Newswire · SC orders travel ban on Keheliya over unpaid compensation in medicine case
  • Says the Supreme Court heard the application on Monday 26 October 2026. Respondent Prof. S. D. Jayaratne said he paid Rs. 50 million on 22 October, after the application was filed. Rambukwella paid Rs. 20 million on 23 October and undertook to pay the remaining Rs. 55 million within two weeks; the other respondents gave undertakings to pay within a week to three months. The Court ordered the four unpaid respondents to pay the full sums within three months, imposed travel bans on them, and released them on bail with cash bonds of Rs. 50 million each and two sureties, to be arranged within a week.28 Oct 2026 · Daily FT · Following TISL’s contempt application, SC sets deadline for Rs. 275 m payment in medical procurement case
  • Reports a travel ban on him and four others, which the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration was told to implement at once, and bail for four respondents, including him and the former NMRA Chairman, former NMRA Chief Executive and former Director of the Medical Supplies Division, on bonds of Rs. 50 million each with two sureties. It says the five respondents were given three months to pay the sums ordered. This differs from Ada Derana and Newswire, which report bonds and a travel ban for him and three others.26 Oct 2026 · Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) · Supreme Court imposes travel ban on Keheliya and four others
• Transparency International Sri Lanka / Filed / Contempt application over unpaid Supreme Court payments, October 2026
  • Filed the application in the Supreme Court under case number SC/Contempt/09/2026, under Article 105(3) of the Constitution and the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act No. 8 of 2024.13 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Keheliya & 4 former health officials face contempt action over unpaid Rs. 275 million
  • Asked the Supreme Court to take appropriate legal action against the respondents under the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Act, No. 8 of 2024, and Article 105(3) of the Constitution.14 Oct 2026 · Ada Derana · Petition filed against Keheliya Rambukwella and others for alleged contempt of Court
• Contempt application over unpaid Supreme Court payments, October 2026 / Seeks enforcement of / Supreme Court ruling on Indian Credit Line medicine purchase, March 2026
  • The application follows the failure to make the payments ordered in the Supreme Court’s 27 March 2026 judgment on irregularities in the procurement of medicines. TISL argued that, although no deadline was set, the payments should have been made immediately.13 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Keheliya & 4 former health officials face contempt action over unpaid Rs. 275 million