Keheliya’s Benz Drama

 

Rs. 240,000 a Month for a Car That Never Showed Up?

“I’ll Always Be Riding a Benz” — But Is It True?

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella once boldly declared, “Whatever happens, I will be traveling in a Benz.” But now, that very statement is under the harsh spotlight of a CIABOC investigation that’s swirling with allegations of a high-stakes car rent scam.

The Mysterious Mercedes That Was Never Seen

According to the probe, Rambukwella was allegedly pocketing Rs. 240,000 every month for over two years — supposedly as rent for a Mercedes Benz he claimed to be using. But here’s the kicker: the car registration number he submitted to the Health Ministry? It belongs to a Benz that was actually up for sale at a Kirulapone car sale center.

Sources say the luxury ride never even set foot at the Health Ministry. So who was really cashing in on this phantom Benz?

Friends in High Places—and Bank Accounts

Investigators uncovered a shady money trail: the monthly “rent” was funneled straight into a friend’s bank account, whose husband then reportedly withdrew the cash and handed it over to Rambukwella himself. Talk about a well-oiled money circuit.

Court Cases Piling Up: Not Just About the Benz

Rambukwella’s troubles don’t end with the Benz scandal. He’s also entangled in two court battles at the Colombo High Court.

One case involves serious charges, including a conspiracy to supply counterfeit immunoglobulin vials to state hospitals and the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 144.4 million. Alongside 11 others, Rambukwella faces 13 counts and is expected in court soon—most of the accused are currently out on bail.

Money Laundering Indictments Hit Close to Home

To top it all off, the CIABOC has filed indictments under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Rambukwella and five family members on 43 counts. That’s a family affair nobody wants to be part of.

From grand Benz rides to courtroom drama, it looks like Keheliya’s luxury lifestyle may have come at a very steep—and public—price.