Colombo, May 26 – Explosive new details emerged at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today as the Bribery Commission alleged that funds at the centre of a financial misconduct probe linked to former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella were accessed and controlled by his daughter, Amali Rambukwella.
Presenting facts before Colombo Chief Magistrate Anuja Lakmali, the Bribery Commission stated that Nishantha Bandara Basnayake, who served as Coordinating Secretary to Keheliya Rambukwella, confessed during questioning that although a bank account had been opened in his name, the account—including the passbook—was in the possession of Amali Rambukwella. He further claimed that all funds credited to the account were received by her.
Basnayake was presented before court today as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into the fraudulent appointment of 15 individuals as personal staff during Rambukwella’s tenure as Minister of Mass Media, Health, and Environment between 2021 and 2023. Authorities allege that salaries and overtime benefits allocated to these individuals, amounting to over Rs. 8 million, were misappropriated for personal and political purposes.
Bribery Commission officials submitted a progress report outlining the investigation and said that Basnayake was taken into custody after voluntarily appearing before the Commission to provide a statement. They argued that although the account was in Basnayake’s name, it had knowingly been used by a third party to commit fraudulent activity, making him complicit.
The Commission requested the court to remand the suspect as further investigations continue, especially regarding the involvement of other parties, including Amali Rambukwella.
The defence counsel countered by asserting that Basnayake should be treated as a witness, not a suspect. The lawyer emphasized that his client voluntarily approached the Bribery Commission without any summons, disclosed comprehensive information about the account, and admitted that he had no idea who deposited the money. He maintained that all bank-related materials, including cards and passbooks, were in the hands of the former Minister’s daughter.
Pleading for bail, the lawyer said his client had acted in good faith and had cooperated fully with authorities.
After considering the submissions from both sides, Magistrate Lakmali ordered Basnayake to be remanded until June 3 and directed the Bribery Commission to submit an updated progress report on the investigations by that date.
The case continues to draw widespread attention as it edges closer to a broader political scandal involving former high-ranking government officials and their families.
