High Court rejects Keheliya’s request to unfreeze bank account

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo High Court has rejected a request made on behalf of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to lift the order freezing a bank account in the parliamentary branch of the former Minister. The account was frozen in connection with an investigation conducted by the Bribery Commission.   
The Colombo High Court had recently further extended its order to freeze 16 fixed deposit accounts and three insurance policies belonging to the family members of the former Health Minister for three more months as part of the ongoing investigation by the Bribery Commission.   
Counsel informed the court that the parliamentary branch bank account, where Rambukwella’s pension, along with compensation exceeding Rs. 95.9 million for damages caused by a fire to his house during the Aragalaya, is deposited, has also been frozen under this provision. Counsel requested that the freeze on this bank account be lifted. However, after considering the facts, Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige rejected the request.   
Former Health Minister Rambukwella is currently out on bail in connection with the alleged purchase of substandard immunoglobulin injections.   
This freezing order was obtained by the Bribery Commission in terms of Section 53(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023.