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Kandy DistrictSri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) / Formerly UNP
FORMER MP
KRVERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA

Keheliya Bandara Rambukwella

Commonly: Keheliya Rambukwella
කෙහෙළිය බණ්ඩාර රඹුක්වැල්ලகெஹெலிய ரம்புக்வெல்ல
Former Cabinet Minister of Health and Mass Media & Former MP for Kandy District
Active in Politics: 2000–2024 (24 Years)Years in Parliament: 24 Years (6 Terms)First Elected: 2000

Keheliya Bandara Rambukwella is a former Sri Lankan politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Kandy District from 2000 to 2024. A former film producer and hotelier, he held major cabinet portfolios including Minister of Mass Media and Information, Defence Spokesperson, Minister of Water Supply, and Minister of Health (2021–2023). In February 2024, he was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and indicted in the Colombo High Court regarding the procurement of substandard Human Immunoglobulin (IVIG) injections.

100% SourcedVERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA92% VERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA
Career TimelineVERIFIED
Parliament & TermsVERIFIED
Government PositionsVERIFIED
Court CasesVERIFIED
Asset DisclosurePARTIAL

Quick Facts

Born / Birthplace1954-08-24 (Kandy, Central Province)
Political PartySri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) / Formerly UNP
Electoral DistrictKandy District
First Elected Year2000
Years in Parliament20002024
Official Hansard & Gazette BackedHansard Dossier
View Details

Career Timeline

All data is sourced from primary government records, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Department of Census and Statistics, Supreme Court determinations, and the National Audit Office.

2000UNP
Opposition

Elected MP for Kandy District

Institution: 11th Parliament of Sri Lanka

Elected to Parliament for Kandy District under the United National Party (UNP).

2006SLFP / UPFA
Mahinda Rajapaksa Administration

Cross-over to Government & Defence Spokesman Appointment

Institution: Media Centre for National Security (MCNS)

Crossed the floor to join President Rajapaksa's government; appointed Cabinet Minister and official government Defence Spokesperson.

2010–2015UPFA
Mahinda Rajapaksa Administration II

Cabinet Minister of Mass Media and Information

Institution: Ministry of Mass Media

Served as Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media.

2021–2023SLPP
Gotabaya Rajapaksa / Wickremesinghe Administrations

Cabinet Minister of Health

Institution: Ministry of Health

Presided over post-COVID health sector management, emergency medicine import waivers, and NMRA procurement circulars.

2024SLPP
Judicial Proceedings

Arrest & High Court Trial-at-Bar Indictment

Institution: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) / Colombo High Court

Arrested following a 10-hour interrogation by the CID; remanded by Maligakanda Magistrate's Court and formally indicted in Colombo High Court regarding the substandard Human Immunoglobulin case.

Parliament & Terms

Calculated from recorded parliamentary service dates.

Years in Parliament
24 Years
6 Parliamentary Terms
Longest Continuous Service
24 Years
Uninterrupted MP Tenure
Years Outside Parliament
0 Years
Since Entry into Politics
Current Status
FORMER MP
VERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA
VERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA

Public Accountability

MANDATORY VERIFICATION POLICY: Every submission enters [PENDING REVIEW]. Unverified social media rumors, partisan commentary, or defamatory statements without primary official documentation (Supreme Court, Parliament, NAO, Gazette) will be automatically rejected.

Substandard Human Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Procurement ScandalIndicted in Colombo High Court / Trial-at-Bar

Indictment served alleging conspiracy, breach of trust, and causing a financial loss of Rs. 130 Million to the state by approving fraudulent procurement of counterfeit Human Immunoglobulin injections with forged NMRA documentation.

Factual & Legal Outcome: Arrested Feb 2, 2024; remanded for over 7 months; granted bail with strict travel ban in September 2024; formal indictment trial proceedings ongoing.
Investigating Authority: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) & Maligakanda Magistrate / Colombo High Court (HC TAB 03/2024 & Maligakanda B 8084/2023)

Sources

supreme_court_lkr
parliament_hansard
auditor_general_reports
mof_fiscal_report_2025
ciaboc_official_data
Last Updated: 2026-08-15VERIFIED OFFICIAL DATA