The Colombo High Court today permitted Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to travel abroad from May 23 to November 30.

Minister Rambukwella, whose passport was impounded by the Court in connection with the GI Pipes Case, sought the Colombo High Court’s permission to temporarily lift his travel ban, enabling him to engage in several official tours, including a seminar organized by the World Health Organization.

The Bribery Commission had filed indictments in Colombo High Court against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others for allegedly causing an unlawful loss to the government after purchasing GI pipes using Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation’s (SLRC) funds during the 2015 Presidential Election while Minister Rambukwella was serving as the Minister of Mass Media.

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had filed indictments against Minister Rambukwella, former SLRC Director General Chandrapala Liyanage, and former SLRC Chairman Wimal Rubasinghe under Section 70 of the Bribery Act.

The Bribery Commission alleged that the three accused in the case had incurred a loss of Rs. 990,000 to the SLRC after unnecessarily purchasing 600 GI pipes on or around December 2, 2014.