Image: The middle finger gesture by Ramith Rambukwella, who was released on bail after being indicted by the Colombo High Court on 11 November 2025.
It was reported in July 2013 that Ramith Rambukwella behaved in a disorderly manner by attempting to open the main door of a British Airways aircraft mid-flight for about two minutes. According to eyewitnesses and airline staff, he was intoxicated at the time. The incident occurred while the West Indies delegation was returning from St. Lucia to Gatwick, London, and Ramith was travelling with the Sri Lankan cricket team after their West Indies tour.
On 18 July 2013, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board issued a statement confirming that Ramith had received a stern warning and was fined half of his match fees. During the investigation, Ramith claimed he had been sleepwalking and mistook the aircraft door for a toilet.
On 22 September 2016, Ramith was arrested on charges of drunk driving and damaging a wall at a well-known girls’ school in Colombo 07. He was released on police bail shortly after. His lawyers informed the court that he would plead guilty to only two traffic charges—reckless driving and failure to avoid an accident—out of the five filed by the police. The Colombo Traffic Magistrate’s Court temporarily suspended his driving licence.
Later, on 11 October 2016, Ramith pleaded guilty, and Magistrate Chandana Kalansuriya imposed a fine of Rs. 29,000 and ordered the release of his licence. At the time, Keheliya Rambukwella, Cabinet Spokesperson under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, told journalists: “This is not the first road accident in the world. The court will give a fair verdict.”
On 10 March 2018, Ramith was arrested again in connection with an incident where two youths were allegedly threatened and assaulted at gunpoint following a traffic accident in Narahenpita. The police stated that he would be produced before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate Kalansuriya ordered his immediate arrest for failing to appear in court on charges of drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, and causing serious injuries to two motorcyclists on or around 9 March 2018. His lawyer claimed Ramith was ill, but no medical report was submitted, prompting the Magistrate to issue an arrest warrant.
By 2025, former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his family were also charged by the Bribery Commission. On 12 September 2025, the Commission filed an indictment against Ramith before the Colombo High Court for failing to disclose how Keheliya acquired assets worth over Rs. 270 million during his tenure as Minister of Health. Among the undisclosed assets were luxury houses and vehicles. Ramith, who served as Keheliya’s personal secretary during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, allegedly acquired assets worth Rs. 296,566,444.76 between 1 January 2022 and 14 November 2023. He failed to explain the source of Rs. 275,302,616.06.
Charges were filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The undisclosed assets include two luxury houses valued at Rs. 80 million and Rs. 65 million on Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07, four bank accounts in Ramith’s name, four in his wife’s name, a Discovery Jeep worth over Rs. 18 million, and multiple fixed deposits. The Bribery Commission submitted evidence of these assets to the court.
Excerpt from the A criminal state – An uncontested chapter by Kasun Pussawela (Translated and edited version from a post on Kasun Puusawela FB)