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Keheliya Rambukwella

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Hon.
Keheliya Rambukwella
MP
Minister of Environment
In office
23 October 2023 – 3 February 2024
PresidentRanil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterDinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byNaseer Ahamed Zainulabdeen
Succeeded byVijitha Herath
Minister of Health
In office
20 May 2022 – 23 October 2023
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Dinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byChanna Jayasumana
Succeeded byRamesh Pathirana
In office
16 August 2021 – 3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byPavithra Wanniarachchi
Succeeded byChanna Jayasumana
Minister of Water Supply and Drainage
In office
23 May 2022 – 19 January 2023
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byMohan Priyadarshana De Silva
Succeeded byJeevan Thondaman
Minister of Mass Media
In office
12 August 2020 – 16 August 2021
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byBandula Gunawardena
Succeeded byDullas Alahapperuma
In office
23 April 2010 – 12 January 2015
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterD. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byJeewan Kumaranatunga
Succeeded byGayantha Karunathilaka
Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare
In office
28 January 2007 – 23 April 2010
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterRatnasiri Wickremanayake
D. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byAthauda Seneviratne
Succeeded byDilan Perera
State Minister of Investment Promotions
In office
27 November 2019 – 12 August 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
State Minister of Mass Media and Digital Infrastructure
In office
4 November 2018 – 15 December 2018
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Member of Parliament
for Kandy District
In office
18 October 2000 – 24 September 2024
Personal details
Born (1954-09-21) 21 September 1954 (age 71)
Kegalle, Dominion of Ceylon
NationalitySri Lankan
PartySri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(since 2021)
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(2006–2021)
United National Party
(before 2006)
SpouseKusum Priyadarshini Epa
Children4
Alma materSt. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
ProfessionHotelier

Keheliya Rambukwella (Sinhala:කෙහෙලිය රඹුක්වැල්ල, Tamil:கெஹெலிய ரம்புக்வெல; born 21 September 1954) is a Sri Lankan politician, hotelier, film producer and former cabinet minister.[1] He has served in multiple ministerial posts, including the Minister of Mass Media and Information, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, Minister of Health and Minister of Environment.[2][3][4]

Early life

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Rambukwella was born and raised in Kegalle and received his education at St. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He is a professional hotelier, with a post graduate degree from the Hotel School. He holds a doctorate in Defense Studies. In 1979, Rambukwella became the youngest film producer in Sri Lanka, after producing his own Sinhala movie, Sakvithi Suvaya, featuring Gamini Fonseka in the lead role.[5] His son, Ramith Rambukwella, is a national cricket player.

Political career

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Rambukwella claims that he was introduced to politics by Gamini Dissanayake when the UNP split under President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Keheliya joined the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) led by Lalith Athulathmudali. He later joined the United National Party and was elected to the parliament from the Kandy District in 2000, winning 154,403 preferential votes. In 2001, Rambukwella was reelected to the parliament.

In 2007, Rambukwella crossed over from the opposition to the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).[6] Rambukwella made an attempt to cross back to the UNP in 2015, however this attempt failed and he was forced to remain with Rajapaksa's faction of the SLFP, which ended up losing the 2015 election.

Controversies

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Accident and government grant

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In February 2012, Rambukwella claimed to have "jumped"[7] from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Melbourne with the intention of reaching his companion, injuring his legs.[8] After receiving a direct aid of Rs. 20 million from the President's Fund to cover his medical expenses, he swiftly recovered from his injuries.[9]

Immunoglobulin scandal

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In October 2023, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) revealed that forged documents were submitted for Customs clearance to procure a batch of vials containing human immunoglobulin, which failed quality tests. It was claimed to have been produced by Livealth Biopharma Pvt Ltd, India, and imported by Isolez Biotech Pharma AG (Pvt) Ltd. However, the Indian manufacturer informed the NMRA that they did not manufacture or export the immunoglobulin batch. Around Rs. 130 million was believed to have been misappropriated.[10][11] On 2 February 2024, Rambukwella was arrested by criminal investigators in Colombo alongside former Secretary to the Ministry of Health Janaka Chandragupta and remanded until 15 February. He resigned from his ministerial post on 3 February following public pressure.[12]

Arrest and indictment

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In June 2025, Rambukwella was indicted along with 11 others in connection with the procurement of substandard human immunoglobulin antibody drugs. The Attorney General filed the indictment before the Colombo Permanent High Court-at-Bar.[13]

Family involvement and bail conditions

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In June 2025, Rambukwella's wife, Kusum Priyadarshini Epa, and daughter, Chandula Ramali Rambukwella, were briefly remanded after failing to fulfill bail conditions in connection with the immunoglobulin scandal.[14]

Additional corruption cases

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Rambukwella and his family members are also facing additional corruption cases, including allegations of misusing public funds for personal gain. These cases are currently under investigation, and further legal proceedings are expected.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "The Parliament of Sri Lanka – Directory of Members". Parliament.lk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: New health and environment ministers appointed". Ada Derana. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Eight new Cabinet ministers of all-party government sworn-in". colombopage.com. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Cabinet appointed". The Island. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Features | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ Abeywardena, Rohan (11 February 2007). "Crossover not for personal gain". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka - 21st November 2016 - Speech of Keheliya Rambukwella". YouTube. 22 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "Keheliya Rambukwella injured in an accident". Newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  9. ^ "FCID questions Keheliya over Rs.20 million accident compensation". Onlanka. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ Perera, Melani Manel (3 February 2024). "Minister remanded in Colombo over Immunoglobulin scandal". Asian News. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Ex-Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella arrested". Ada Derana. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Sri Lankan Cabinet minister resigns after being arrested in a counterfeit drugs scandal". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Keheliya indicted over immunoglobulin scandal". Lankasara. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Sri Lanka's former Health Minister and family remanded after failing to meet bail conditions". Tamil Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Sri Lanka's former Health Minister and family remanded after failing to meet bail conditions". Tamil Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
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