High Court rejects Keheliya Rambukwella’s request to unfreeze bank account

Friday, 21 March 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

The Colombo High Court yesterday rejected a request by former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s Attorneys to lift the freeze order on his bank account in the Parliamentary branch.

The account was frozen as part of an ongoing investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The decision was delivered by High Court Judge Adithya Patabendi, reaffirming the Court’s previous ruling to suspend multiple bank accounts and insurance agreements belonging to the former Health Minister and his family amidst the ongoing CIABOC-led investigations.

Among the frozen accounts is Rambukwella’s Parliamentary branch bank account, where his pension and a compensation sum of over Rs. 95.9 million was received for damages caused by the fire at his residence.

On 3 January, the Colombo High Court further extended its order to freeze 16 fixed deposit accounts and three insurance policies belonging to the family members of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for another three months till 2 April.

In June 2024, this freezing order was obtained by the Bribery Commission in terms of Section 53(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023, as part of the investigations being conducted under Section 42, where the spouse, family members or any other persons are also subject to scrutiny.

The value of these frozen fixed deposit accounts and insurance policies has been estimated at Rs. 93.125 million. Rambukwella was granted bail in September 2024 by Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court, after serving nearly seven months in prison — over the alleged purchase of substandard immunoglobulin injections and is under scrutiny along with his spouse, three daughters and son-in-law.Police investigations so far have revealed that financial fraud of Rs. 130 million had occurred via the imports of the said substandard medicine, during the tenure of Rambukwella as Health Minister.

In September 2024, the Colombo High Court issued another order preventing the use of two luxury apartments in Kollupitiya, purchased by Ramith Rambukwella — the son of the former Health Minister. The said two luxury apartments in Kollupitiya area have reportedly been purchased by Ramith Rambukwella for Rs. 80 million and Rs. 65 million.

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