On Wednesday, Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama ordered the release of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who had been remanded for eight months over the distribution of substandard antibody vaccines.

Former Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health, Herath Kumar, and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, Dr. Vijith Gunasekara, were also granted bail. The suspects were released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 each and required to provide two bonds of Rs. 5 million each.

The magistrate's decision was influenced by severe mental health concerns. A report from the Government Medical Council, presented by Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, highlighted the suspects’ significant mental health issues and risk of suicide, though these reports were from 2019.

While the Deputy Solicitor General opposed bail, arguing the medical conditions had not been updated and did not reflect current risks, the magistrate acknowledged the deteriorating health of Rambukwella, who is 71. With the suspects' conditions worsening and having been in remand for over seven months, the magistrate ruled in favor of their release on bail.