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Former minister Keheliya Rambukwella has been arrested over allegations of helping steal a centuries-old sacred stone from the palace of Sri Lanka’s last Sinhala king.
Mariyam Adheela
Former Sri Lankan minister Keheliya Rambukwella -- Photo: Newswire
COLOMBO – Former Sri Lankan minister Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested on Tuesday over allegations that he aided the theft of a centuries-old carved granite stone from the palace of the island’s last Sinhala king.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said Rambukwella conspired in the removal of the historic “moonstone” in December 2022 and obstructed the police investigation.
The circular stone formed part of the symbolic entrance to the palace of King Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe, who ruled until 1739. CIABOC said Rambukwella was a minister when the alleged theft took place.
The anti-corruption body also charged Rambukwella with allegedly using state funds to employ six people for his private business.
Rambukwella is separately facing court proceedings over the alleged purchase of counterfeit medicines for state hospitals while he was health minister. Police have told the court that a cancer drug he authorised for purchase was later found to contain water.
Several senior health ministry officials have also been indicted over the alleged drug scam. Rambukwella served as health minister during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, when the country defaulted on its US$46 billion foreign debt.
