Keheliya Rambukwella

Keheliya Rambukwella (born 21 September 1954) is a Sri Lankan politician. He is the former Minister of Mass Media and Information and Minister of Health.[1]

Hon.
Keheliya Rambukwella
MP
Minister of Health
In office
16 August 2021 – 3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byPavithra Wanniarachchi
Succeeded byChanna Jayasumana
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
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)
Alma materSt. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
ProfessionBusinessman

Early life

Rambukwella was born and raised in Kegalle, Sri Lanka and received his education at St. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He is a professional hotelier, with a post graduate degree from the Hotel School. In 1979 he produced Sakvithi Suvaya, which featured Gamini Fonseka.[2] His son Ramith is a national cricket player.

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] 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.

Accident and grant

In February 2012, Rambukwella claimed to have "jumped"[4] from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Melbourne, injuring his legs.[5] 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. Parliament of Sri Lanka - 21st November 2016 - Speech of Keheliya Rambukwella, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 26 September 2021
  5. "Keheliya Rambukwella injured in an accident". Newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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