Video: 'Ramith had consulted doctors over somnambulism'

4 July 2013 05:42 pm - 57 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Cabinet spokesman, Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that his son Ramith was a sleep walker and had even consulted doctors. He surmised that Ramith may have sleep walked during the-flight.

Addressing the weekly-Cabinet briefing today, the minister said that he was dismayed and disappointed by the virulent ‘media stir’ focusing on his son Ramith’s behaviour.

“I am extremely sad that the local media gave such prominence to this incident based on the one and only statement allegedly made by a woman passenger onboard the flight that he was drunk. Besides, it was not a direct or exclusive report but had been taken from the ‘Daily Mail, London. You will have to reconsider whether this is unbiased media,” he said,

He claimed that British Airways had exonerated Ramith after a urine test for alcohol.

“BA did not consider it a big issue, but rather a routine mishap. But our media friends in Sri Lanka made a mountain out of this molehill. Is this ethically correct? I do not know,” he said.

Mr. Rambukwella said the initial report commenting on his son’s unsteady walk to the door of the aircraft along the aisle after a long sleep was that he was either drunk or dazed. The London media had struck off ‘dazed’ and taken the word drunk and that was how he was made a drunkard.

He said it was a great relief that he was released by BA without further action and added that the incident would not be a hindrance to his continuing to play cricket. He added, however, that a separate inquiry had been initiated in Sri Lanka.

“Let’s wait for the outcome of this inquiry,” he said. (Sandun Jayasekera and Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 57

luky Friday, 05 July 2013 01:02 PM

Keheliya minister also a sleep walker

Regi Friday, 05 July 2013 07:06 AM

He seems to be medically unfit due to his ailment and how was he selected to represent Sri Lanka in cricket. It is ok In Sri Lanka. But when our team goes abroad, he could walk in his sleep and do anything and the lives of the team mates will be in danger.

Nadi Karunaratne Friday, 05 July 2013 07:07 AM

Just say sorry, I was a young fool -.that we can forgive. It's the nonsense of the father and his own incredible explanations for falling off a balcony and now preposterous excuses for his sons behaviour that are so repulsive.

Renuka Friday, 05 July 2013 07:12 AM

You know what keheliya, he sleep walked in to the team too. he isnt amongst the top 48 bowlers or batters in the country. he sleep walked in to the team through politician Sanath, Politician Hashan and then pramodya.

G. Hapun Friday, 05 July 2013 07:15 AM

Son's a sleep walker and the father a sleep talker! No wonder he is in charge of the media. What a great combination.

Citizen Friday, 05 July 2013 07:18 AM

Dear Minister! I dont believe your version and I will only believe what the media reports on this story. Such is your credibility as Minster of information. However should your version be correct at least you will now know how others and particularly we the public feel when you use your position to twist stories and discredit others when you or the government are under pressure to cover-up your misdeeds.

Ravi Friday, 05 July 2013 07:27 AM

Hi Mr Minister you too have the sickness, specially when your in a hotel.

Api nodanna live Friday, 05 July 2013 07:32 AM

Charles

You coulnd't say better. Ummmmmah

Konde Bandapu Cheena Friday, 05 July 2013 07:35 AM

This cover reminds me of a person who climbed a Kitul Tree to drink toddy was caught said that he went to cut grass!!!
The farther and son had the same cover up the former fell off a balcony in Australia and the latter tried to open a cabin door at 33,000 feet.These rascals will however come back at the next elections. Both are alcoholics as the majority of Govt MPs and ministers.

Prashantha Friday, 05 July 2013 07:41 AM

How can a person who is sleep walking do such a feat such as trying to open the door of a plane. Only if that person is familiar to the place for a long time could know subconsciously where the handle of the door is located let alone the door. This is pure bull shit. You cannot expect the staff of a British Airways flight or passengers to know that this is the son of a minister in Sri Lanka. He cannot say the news is trying to sling mud at him an his son. Also the woman who related the story to the media must have seen exactly what happened. There is no need to utter damn lies to cover up the incident to save his son's place in the team.

Arone Friday, 05 July 2013 07:45 AM

He is also sleep walker(as well as all politicians) in Sri Lanka. We have never seen this kind of a situation in the history of Sri Lanka. What a pathetic situation.

sherwin Friday, 05 July 2013 08:08 AM

Good One Mate, that's the reality,,,,

Roy Friday, 05 July 2013 08:19 AM

No .... It was the Pilot who tried to open the cabin door and it was Ramith who prevented it. If not for Ramith the plane and the passengers lives would have been lost.

srinath.gunaratne Friday, 05 July 2013 11:10 AM

As long as the whole country is sleep walking, These people will tell us fairy tales

mayomee Friday, 05 July 2013 12:49 PM

how the LIES ACT front of media

Mason Friday, 05 July 2013 07:06 AM

Latent thought that son is a sleep walker!! Come on Mr. Minister your excuses are frivolous and none would believe it. Reserve it for your cabinet colleagues

Abr Friday, 05 July 2013 01:25 PM

Promote this chap to the national side as night watchman.

anil Friday, 05 July 2013 01:46 PM

why cant he get his tem mates to testify that he was not drunk ?

nimals Friday, 05 July 2013 02:39 PM

thoththa BABA

nimals Friday, 05 July 2013 02:40 PM

drunkards the other 2 men is laughing LMAO

Bunter Saturday, 06 July 2013 12:10 AM

He is innocent until proven guilty!

Vincentabraham Saturday, 06 July 2013 01:21 AM

Ha ha outcome of SL Cricket? Mr Minitsre don't take us for a joke! Please! Nishamtha Ranatunga and Asanga S will do the job for you...even though bottles of whiskey were gulped Down.

Vincentabraham Saturday, 06 July 2013 01:22 AM

The coach and manager are silent! They will loose their jobs if they talk!

pasel Saturday, 06 July 2013 02:01 AM

When Ramith was a sleep walker and had even consulted doctors.?
Yesterday

pasel Saturday, 06 July 2013 02:04 AM

“Let’s wait for the outcome of this inquiry
We all know the out come

kumar Saturday, 06 July 2013 02:26 AM

Went to the wrong school

Rohith Saturday, 06 July 2013 03:07 AM

The father sleep walked while drunk in Australia and broke his legs falling from a hotel. Now the son has tried the same stunt at 36,000 feet. He should be sacked from the Sri Lankan A team.

Ceylonese Saturday, 06 July 2013 01:45 PM

This is a good excuse for the SLCB not to select him for future tours as he is suffering from Somnambulism which could pose a danger to other passengers and the rest of the cricket team if the door of the plane was opened in mid air.

luky Saturday, 06 July 2013 05:30 PM

some ministers are ok but all the minister's sons are idiots

Peace Lover Friday, 05 July 2013 04:50 AM

How much of lies and how many more lies is he going to tell to cover up his drunkard son... anyway he is used to it. Typical Politician.

Premalal Friday, 05 July 2013 01:54 AM

`Air lines do not try passengers who misbehave. They just hand them over to the police. Nor do they have the authority to exonerate or find anyone guilty.
If he has a sleep walking problem he should give up cricket for his own safety. Imagine sleep walking to bat against a pace bowler?

Nariya Friday, 05 July 2013 01:57 AM

Sin no?

OMG Friday, 05 July 2013 01:58 AM

Soon we will hear the all famous song "Mathaka nene bung"!!

dulan de silva Friday, 05 July 2013 02:02 AM

Most Sri Lankans have sleep walked to the ballot box to vote for such politicians

ANTON Friday, 05 July 2013 02:04 AM

SEEMS ALL THE MINISTERS SONS ARE SLEEP WALKERS.
OR WALK SLEEPERS.

Kamal-USA Friday, 05 July 2013 02:09 AM

What has the minister got to do with his sons behavior?

Mohideen Friday, 05 July 2013 04:24 AM

You cannot fool the Daily Mail, London.

H P PULLE Friday, 05 July 2013 04:23 AM

I agree what has the minister to do he only jumps off buildings.
The son jumps off planes.
Oh my GOD.

ss Friday, 05 July 2013 04:29 AM

What a stooping? Thinking people are fools.

Wedige Friday, 05 July 2013 04:31 AM

Send him to Angoda !

ss Friday, 05 July 2013 04:31 AM

Dads are dads...so he is expected to answer.

Roshan Friday, 05 July 2013 04:40 AM

Even the father jumped from the balcony because of sleep walking, looks like family sickness.

SueSue Friday, 05 July 2013 04:42 AM

OMG. The list of excuses our ministers have for their sons' bad behavior. Wonder what they'll come up with next?

HK Friday, 05 July 2013 01:30 AM

It's ok don't tell more we beloved

Rasa Friday, 05 July 2013 04:50 AM

I don't think that a boy of this age will make a mistake between the lavatory door and the emergency exit door. These are just cooked up surangana kathavas. Forget about this and close this story.

Minister Friday, 05 July 2013 04:57 AM

Kamal, It is because he is the son of the minister.

shanthapriya Friday, 05 July 2013 05:03 AM

yeah ... this may be a minor incident we all can forget it.....
but when this person is said to have tried to pull the door for good 2 miniutes it is something uncommon

dayasoma Friday, 05 July 2013 06:18 AM

Did he sleep walked with the seat belt on ?

Merv Friday, 05 July 2013 06:20 AM

So similar the vein SLEEP-TALK that happens in the parliament.

Charles Friday, 05 July 2013 06:19 AM

Big Rambuk.....first of all you should be responsible for your son's actions.
When he is acting in this manner as a school boy, you should have put a stop for that and corrected him. Instead of that you bought him a Porsche Panamera and rewarded him.
Also look at you...you came in to the parliament from the UNP ticket and jumped to the govt. for financial gains. So when you are not a straight forward person, how can your sone be. Cos he will be looking at you as a role model. And what a role model you are...

chris abey Friday, 05 July 2013 06:24 AM

Maybe he can be our nightwatch man.lol.
What a ridiculous excuse. The father should just keep quiet and ask his son to apokogise.But then those things are expected of children of good upbringing.

david Friday, 05 July 2013 06:26 AM

PLEASE SEE DR.MERWIN FOR FURTHER TREATMENT FOR
YOUR SON.

kumar Friday, 05 July 2013 06:41 AM

Imagine if he is from a poor family the Cricket Board will give good medicine for somnambulism.

Gunasekera Friday, 05 July 2013 06:44 AM

Ha ha Very nice comment H P PULLE. You are very correct.

sen Friday, 05 July 2013 06:50 AM

you too have the same sickness Mr. Keheliya?

zavahir Friday, 05 July 2013 06:53 AM

Who is the psychiatrist issuing the report.

P. a.Dayah Friday, 05 July 2013 06:59 AM

Both father and son think we are idiots . They are the biggest idiots. Ramith shouldn't be in the team in the first place.

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Video: 'Ramith had consulted doctors over somnambulism'

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