Keheliya Rambukwella

Keheliya Rambukwella (Sinhala:කෙහෙලිය රඹුක්වැල්ල,Tamil:கெஹெலிய ரம்புக்வெல; born 21 September 1954) is a Sri Lankan politician,[1] who is serving as the current Minister of Environment of Sri Lanka since 23 October 2023.[2] He is the former Minister of Mass Media and Information, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Minister of Health.[3][4]

Keheliya Rambukwella
කෙහෙලිය රඹුක්වැල්ල
கெஹெலிய ரம்புக்வெல
Minister of Environment
Assumed office
23 October 2023
PresidentRanil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterDinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byNaseer Ahamed
Minister of Health
In office
20 May 2022  23 October 2023
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Dinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byChanna Jayasumana
Succeeded byRamesh Pathirana
In office
16 August 2021  3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byPavithra Wanniarachchi
Succeeded byChanna Jayasumana
Minister of Water Supply and Drainage
In office
23 May 2022  19 January 2023
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterRanil Wickremesinghe
Preceded byMohan Priyadarshana De Silva
Succeeded byJeevan Thondaman
Minister of Mass Media
In office
12 August 2020  16 August 2021
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byBandula Gunawardena
Succeeded byDullas Alahapperuma
In office
23 April 2010  12 January 2015
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterD. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byJeewan Kumaranatunga
Succeeded byGayantha Karunathilaka
Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare
In office
28 January 2007  23 April 2010
PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterRatnasiri Wickremanayake
D. M. Jayaratne
Preceded byAthauda Seneviratne
Succeeded byDilan Perera
State Minister of Investment Promotions
In office
27 November 2019  12 August 2020
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
State Minister of Mass Media and Digital Infrastructure
In office
4 November 2018  15 December 2018
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
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
ProfessionHotelier

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. He holds a doctorate in Defense Studies. In 1979 he produced Sakvithi Suvaya, which featured Gamini Fonseka.[5] 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.[6] 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 government grant

In February 2012, Rambukwella claimed to have "jumped"[7] from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room in Melbourne, with the intention of reaching his companion, injuring his legs.[8] 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.

Utility Debts

Rambukwella is refusing to pay a sum of over Rs.1M for his domestic power bill to this day.

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. "Cabinet reshuffle: New health and environment ministers appointed". Ada Derana. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  3. "Eight new Cabinet ministers of all-party government sworn-in". colombopage.com. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. "Cabinet appointed". The Island. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. "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.
  6. Abeywardena, Rohan (11 February 2007). "Crossover not for personal gain". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  7. Parliament of Sri Lanka - 21st November 2016 - Speech of Keheliya Rambukwella, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 26 September 2021
  8. "Keheliya Rambukwella injured in an accident". Newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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