Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (18).
Rambukwella arrived at the Commission in the morning to record a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation. Subsequently, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the release of Rambukwella on bail in connection with one of the corruption cases filed against him by CIABOC.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S Bodaragama issued the order after considering the submissions made by both the Commission and the attorneys representing Rambukwella.
Rambukwella was also released on bail yesterday after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court over allegations that he abused his power to protect his son from allegations relating to the theft of the historic ‘Sandagala’ artefact.
Rambukwella, who was arrested by the CIABOC was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
CIABOC officials alleged that Rambukwella’s son, Ramith Rambukwella, along with several associates of Keheliya Rambukwella, had stolen the historic Sandagala.
The Commission informed that investigations had subsequently been conducted by the Kandy Division Criminal Investigation Unit and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
In 2022, Rambukwella had summoned the then Kandy Senior Superintendent of Police, the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the said Unit and the OIC of the Pallekele Police Station to his official residence and questioned them about the investigation.
The officers had informed him that the CID was conducting an investigation into the incident.
The CIABOC further alleged that Rambukwella subsequently contacted then CID Deputy Inspector General Prasad Ranasinghe by telephone and inquired about the status of the investigation.
Ranasinghe had told Rambukwella that his son would not face any consequences.
The CIABOC also informed that no statement had been recorded from Ramith Rambukwella in connection with the incident. The Commission further alleged that although information had been received that the Sandagala was at Keheliya Rambukwella’s residence in Kandy, permission had not been granted for the Police to search the premises.
The Commission further alleged that Rambukwella had subsequently asked another suspect in the case, Prasad Sanjeewa, whether the case could be brought to an end by producing two or three individuals, and had offered to bear the expenses involved.
The CIABOC told that the suspects were subsequently produced before court and the case was concluded after fines of Rs. 1,500 were imposed on each person.
The prosecution argued that Rambukwella had abused his official position in an attempt to protect his son from the allegations and requested that he be remanded.
Appearing for Rambukwella, attorney Kanchana Ratwatte told that Rambukwella was already facing 13 cases and had, together with members of his family, appeared before the CIABOC on 81 occasions to provide statements.
The lawyer argued that this demonstrated that his client was not a person attempting to evade the court or the Commission and requested that he be released on bail.
After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate ruled that sufficient grounds had not been presented to warrant remanding the suspect.
Rambukwella was accordingly released on two surety bails of Rs. one million each. The Court also ordered him to surrender his passport.
Meanwhile, the CIABOC also filed another complaint against Rambukwella, alleging that he committed an offence of corruption while serving as the Mass Media Minister by recruiting six employees beyond the approved cadre of the Rupavahini Corporation and assigning them to his personal staff.
The Chief Magistrate also released Rambukwella on bail in that case, on two surety bails of Rs. five million each.