Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Family Granted Bail Amidst Sweeping Corruption Probes
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Former Sri Lankan Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, once a powerful figure in successive governments, and several members of his family have recently been granted bail after being embroiled in multiple high-profile corruption investigations. The legal proceedings have shed light on allegations ranging from misuse of public funds to a multi-million-rupee money laundering scheme and a scandal involving the procurement of substandard medical supplies.
The Latest on Keheliya Rambukwella’s Legal Status:
Former Minister Rambukwella, who has held portfolios including Mass Media, Health, and Environment, was initially arrested in connection with allegations of causing over Rs. 8 million in financial loss to the government during his ministerial tenure. These charges relate to the alleged unlawful appointment of 15 individuals to his personal staff, with their salaries and allowances reportedly diverted for personal and political use. He was subsequently granted bail in early June 2025 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
However, the legal troubles for Rambukwella and his family did not end there. In mid-June 2025, he, along with his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa and daughter Chandula Ramali Rambukwella, were again arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). These arrests were made in connection with an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, concerning alleged illegal asset accumulation worth over Rs. 97 million.
While initially remanded due to their inability to fulfill bail conditions, Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa, and his daughter Chandula Ramali Rambukwella have since been granted bail. The bail conditions included a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 each and significant surety bails, alongside an imposed overseas travel ban on all three.
Family Members Also Face Legal Scrutiny:
The investigations have extended deeply into the former minister’s family network. In addition to his wife and daughter Chandula, Keheliya Rambukwella’s son Ramith Rambukwella was also previously arrested and granted bail in connection with the “ghost staff” scandal.
More recently, in a further development, two other daughters of Keheliya Rambukwella, Chamithri Rambukwella and Amali Rambukwella, and Amali’s husband Isuru Pulasthi Bandara, were also arrested by CIABOC. These arrests are linked to the ongoing money laundering probe, specifically involving undeclared assets valued at over Rs. 134 million, including properties and vehicles. They too have been granted bail, subject to similar cash and surety bail conditions and travel restrictions.
Reports indicate that fixed deposit accounts and numerous life insurance investment plans belonging to various family members have been frozen as part of the extensive investigations.
Allegations of Substandard Drug Procurement:
Beyond the financial irregularities, Keheliya Rambukwella also faces grave allegations related to the procurement of substandard and contaminated medical drugs during his time as Health Minister. A particular focus has been on a consignment of Human Immunoglobulin, which was found to contain no effective medication and was contaminated with dangerous bacteria, despite being part of a Rs. 960 million deal. The Attorney General’s Department has informed the court that these medications were imported under suspicious procedures without proper regulatory approval, with phone records allegedly linking Rambukwella to the obscure Indian company that supplied the drugs.
The cases are currently before various courts, with some scheduled for further hearing in the coming months, including a hearing on October 10, 2025, for one of the initial corruption charges. The ongoing investigations underscore the Sri Lankan authorities’ commitment to tackling alleged high-level corruption and ensuring accountability for public funds.
