Keheliya Rambukwella

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Hon.
Keheliya Rambukwella
MP
කෙහෙළිය රඹුක්වැල්ල
கெஹெலியா ரவிக்கக்வெல்ல
Minister of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 August 2021
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byPavithra Wanniarachchi
Minister of Mass Media and Information
In office
23 April 2010 – 12 January 2015
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterD. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byJeewan Kumaranatunga
Succeeded byGayantha Karunathilaka
Member of Parliament
for Kandy District
Incumbent
Assumed office
2000
Personal details
NationalitySri Lankan
Political partySri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(2021–Present)
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(2006–2021)
United National Party
(Before 2006)
ProfessionBusinessman

Keheliya Rambukwella (born 21 September 1954) is a Sri Lankan politician. He is the former Minister of Mass Media and Information and the current Minister of Health.[1] His son Ramith Rambukwella is a Sri Lanka national cricketer plagued with disciplinary issues - latest being the assault of university students and threatening them by brandishing Keheliya's firearm in Narahenpita Colombo 5. (https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sri-lanka-cricketer-ramith-rambukwella-arrested-for-assault-drunk-driving/story-kVQCHxBOvGIEGvNiLaksNJ.html).

Early life[]

Rambukwella was born and raised in Kegalle, Sri Lanka and received his education at St.Mary's College, Kegalle. Keheliya Rambukwella is a professional hotelier with a post graduate degree from the Hotel School. In 1979, he turned out to be Sri Lanka's youngest film producer when he produced the Sinhala movie "Sakvithi Suvaya" which starred film legend, Gamini Fonseka.[2] His son Ramith Rambukwella is a Sri Lanka national cricketer plagued with disciplinary issues - latest being the assault of university students and threatening them by brandishing his father's firearm https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sri-lanka-cricketer-ramith-rambukwella-arrested-for-assault-drunk-driving/story-kVQCHxBOvGIEGvNiLaksNJ.html).

Politics[]

Rambukwella claims that he was introduced to politics by late Gamini Dissanayake when the UNP split under late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Keheliya joined the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) led by Lalith Athulathmudali. Later he joined the United National Party and was elected to the Parliament from Kandy district in 2000 by winning 154,403 preferential votes. In December 2001, again he was elected to the Parliament from Kandy district. Later he crossed over to the President Mahinda Rajapakse's government.[3] Keheliya Rambukwella made another attempt to cross-over in 2015, when he tried to rejoin the United National Party. But this attempt failed and he was forced to remain with the SLFP's Mahinda fraction which lost the 2015 election.

Keheliya Rambukwella's financial handlers are Wasnatha de Silva [1], Manilal Fernando[4] (both prominent cement importers to Sri Lanka) and Johnathan Benedict (a Pastor, an Insurance salesman in Sri Lanka and the fiancé of his daughter Chamithri Rambukwella). Keheliya Rambukwella's son Ramith Rambukwella, daughter-in-law Natalie Shanelle and granddaughter Aarya Jade Rambukwella reside in a luxury apartment provided by Manilal Fernando at Mandakini Glow Residencies Colombo 5.

In the year 2020, Keheliya Rambukwella appointed his eldest daughter Chamithri Rambukwella as a Director of Sealcine, a government media company coming under his ministry of Mass Media. Keheliya also appointed his youngest daughter Amali Rambukwella as the Coordinating Secretary at the Ministry of Mass Media with government salaries and allowances, when Amali Rambukwella was fired by her private sector employer. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Keheliya also appointed his son Ramith Rambukwella as the Private Secretary with all state allowances and negotiated his son to have a Government sponsored Land Cruiser V8 vehicle worth Rs. 50 million (vehicle number CAF-2548).

Accident and the Rs. 20 Million Grant[]

In February 2012, Rambukwella claimed to have "jumped"[5] from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Melbourne, injuring his legs.[6] After receiving a direct aid of Rs. 20 million from the President's Fund to cover his medical expenses, he swiftly recovered from the injuries.

References[]

  1. ^ "The Parliament of Sri Lanka – Directory of Members". Parliament.lk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Features | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  3. ^ Abeywardena, Rohan (11 February 2007). "Crossover not for personal gain". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Manilal Fernando loses appeal against FIFA life ban | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  5. ^ Parliament of Sri Lanka - 21st November 2016 - Speech of Keheliya Rambukwella, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 26 September 2021
  6. ^ "Keheliya Rambukwella injured in an accident". Newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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