Amali Rambukwella Questioned for Hours

Daughter of Former Minister at the Center of Major Corruption Probe

Amali Rambukwella, daughter of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, was questioned for nearly three hours on May 29 by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The questioning relates to an investigation into the alleged loss of Rs. 8 million in public funds through salary payments, allowances, and overtime for personnel attached to the minister’s private staff.

Key Role in Minister's Staff Under Scrutiny

Investigators state that Amali Rambukwella served as the Coordinating Secretary on her father’s private staff. This position is at the heart of the financial misappropriation claims being probed by the Bribery Commission.

Brother Already in Custody Over Same Allegations

Just days earlier, Amali’s brother, Ramith Rambukwella, was arrested and remanded in connection with the same investigation. His arrest followed his appearance before the Bribery Commission, which continues to dig into the details of how state funds were allegedly misused.

Government Orders Rapid Action on 20+ Corruption Cases

Following the recent imprisonments of former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando, the government has instructed authorities to expedite over 20 stalled corruption investigations involving former ministers and senior officials. These cases had been suppressed or delayed under previous administrations.

Minister Confirms Reopened Probes Were Once Buried

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala confirmed that several of these cases date back 10 to 15 years and were deliberately buried by prior regimes. The current government, led by the National People's Power (NPP), has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to reactivate and accelerate these cases.

Shortage of Qualified Officers Slows Down Financial Crime Unit

While the Financial Crimes Investigation Division has been reactivated, Minister Wijepala noted a lack of sufficiently qualified officers to conduct complex financial probes. He emphasized that the government is working to provide necessary resources and fill staffing gaps to ensure effective investigations.

A New Era of Accountability or Political Targeting?

These moves mark a significant push by the NPP government to enforce its anti-corruption agenda. Whether this leads to lasting institutional change or sparks political backlash remains to be seen. However, the pursuit of justice in long-ignored cases signals a new phase of accountability for those in power—past and present.