Worst-performing health minister stripped from Cabinet post; gets a new portfolio

23 October 2023 11:26 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 40

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*Daily Mirror exclusively reported last week the planned decision by the President

In the midst of brewing crisis in the health sector riddled with corruption, administrative lapses and the influx of inferior quality drugs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe removed Keheliya Rambukwella dubbed as the worst performing health minister from his Cabinet post today and appointed him as the Environment Minister instead.

Daily Mirror exclusively reported last week that the President would effect major changes including the removal of Rambukwella upon his return from his official visit to China.

For months, the President remained under pressure from various quarters to strip Rambukwella from his post as the Health Minister.

The health sector ran into an unprecedented crisis during his tenure with the hospital sector running even short of essential items. Alarmingly, the import of low quality drugs, apparently through dubious deals, led to the death of several patients within a short period.

The main opposition even moved a no -confidence motion against him but he survived it.

Comments - 40

Dr. H.M.D. Amarasinghe Monday, 23 October 2023 11:36 AM

This fellow will spoil the environment also and it will be polluted hereafter. He is not even suitable for Women's affair minister. Anney... Anney... Ranil.

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ANTON Monday, 23 October 2023 11:37 AM

OK ........ NOW WHAT ABOUT THE WORST PERFORMING PRESIDENT OF SRILANKA.

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Shiran Monday, 23 October 2023 11:37 AM

Finally, a positive decision. Hope he has not been "kicked upstairs". Why have him in the cabinet at all.

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Dr. J.M. Balasooriya Monday, 23 October 2023 11:38 AM

Good move, but he should have been kicked out from Politics. Even in the environment he will try to make his commission.

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Prof. K.A. Gomez Monday, 23 October 2023 11:39 AM

Thanks to SJB Dr. Jayawardane who won the battle against Commission Kehliya Rambukwella.

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Rohan Monday, 23 October 2023 11:55 AM

How come he was Stripped? He has been interested with Environment which too has lots of money

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Sam Silva Monday, 23 October 2023 05:43 PM

Need to address this to our honorable president. He is the one who appointed him but not by himself.

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Sam Silva Monday, 23 October 2023 06:02 PM

That you need to address to our president who gave the new position.

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dotv Monday, 23 October 2023 11:56 AM

Has this Minister got hidden talent to perform better as Minister of environment ?

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BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 23 October 2023 11:58 AM

This fellow is crook and now senile. It is time he went home and gave this position to young honest youth. However greediness will make them lounge in politics until their last day.

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Don Juan Monday, 23 October 2023 12:02 PM

Our Forest?

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Lalindra Jayewardene Monday, 23 October 2023 12:05 PM

The President lacks the courage to throw the garbage into the bin, instead gives him an alternative portfolio as Environment minister. God save our environment from this crooked minister

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Ama Monday, 23 October 2023 12:14 PM

Some or other these GARBAGE MINISTERS IN SRI LANKA gets some cabinet ministerial portfolio to survive. What ridiculous logic. All corrupt

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joshua Monday, 23 October 2023 12:25 PM

Now why are you giving the environment ministry? This person is suitable for anything other than making commissions. Now he will ruin that Ministry too. Why can't the President chase him away???

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N V Jen Monday, 23 October 2023 12:26 PM

Yes worst performing and most corrupt minister and bureaucrats. But then why reward him with ministry of environment instead of taking action? Is it to accelerate the climate change disasters in Sri Lanka?

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Incompetent and Senile Dr.RW Monday, 23 October 2023 12:30 PM

Rambukwella must be salivating and eagerly eyeing the abundant forestry resources and the prospect of profiting from these valuable hardwood trees like Ebony, Teak, sandalwood and Mahogany. His enthusiasm for this god sent manna is very palpable.

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roni Monday, 23 October 2023 12:45 PM

What a disgrace. The Government cannot function without this sleepwalking individual who has failed miserably for a long period been given another ministerial post. It clearly shows the president is totally reliant on the mercy of SLPP as he was not elected by the people and cannot take action without consulting Basil. It's time to move on Mr. President you are acting to safeguard your position and not to uplift the country.

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Citizen2023 Monday, 23 October 2023 12:50 PM

This is the best news we hv recd ever since Ranil became the Prez. Demotion to Keheliya who is not even capable of managing the Environment Ministry. He will not be elected to Parliament at the next General election, hence he should resign.

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DW Monday, 23 October 2023 12:51 PM

So obviously RW wants the environment destroyed as well. What's next? Please don't make him the minister for Education.

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Citizen k Monday, 23 October 2023 01:06 PM

Now our environment is in peril.

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ravin Monday, 23 October 2023 01:10 PM

can anyone tell us a single portfolio he had hold performed well? Only known factor is his total family get benefited by appointing into various positions of ministries he hold. What happened to Rathnapura gal?

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Citizens Monday, 23 October 2023 01:10 PM

Not only keheliya, neither are the other ministers "qualified" to represent their ministries!

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DOT Monday, 23 October 2023 01:20 PM

Which means we don't need a good minister for environmental sector,

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susanthika Monday, 23 October 2023 01:29 PM

We will always be stuck in this washing machine until the clothes disintegrate naturally (goons rip off all funds from the country while playing food and die of old age)

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Bandu Monday, 23 October 2023 01:34 PM

Just changing pillows will not cure headache. Ranil so fond of Commissions has still not appointed one to look into how Keheliya

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K. Karl Monday, 23 October 2023 01:50 PM

What action will be taken for the dubious deals?

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RanjithT Monday, 23 October 2023 01:51 PM

Reshuffle of jokers in a deck of cards.

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Nadi Karunaratne Monday, 23 October 2023 01:57 PM

You have done a useless job so take on the Environment ministry and do another useless job.

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Jayantha Monday, 23 October 2023 02:12 PM

Lol. He should bw behind bars for wasting money

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Cherath Monday, 23 October 2023 02:40 PM

Swapping around portfolios won't cure the excruciating headaches of the long suffering people. You cannot rid the headache by changing pillows. The only way out to rectify all wrongs and wrongdoers is a CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT. These are the only painstaking tasks Ranil is able to perform, 'cos it doesn't break much sweat or blood and doesn't need the use of his little brain!

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ACA Monday, 23 October 2023 03:09 PM

In SL when man failed he get another post, what a dumb decision of the president. This corrupt fellow must be knowing some secret deals.

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Ram Monday, 23 October 2023 03:37 PM

Keheliya was removed as he did not perform to the expectations. Then why was he given another Ministry. This is I scratch your back and you scratch my back policy. I will protect you and you protect me

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sam Monday, 23 October 2023 03:44 PM

We have a minister properly educated with much more than A levels

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Buddhist Monday, 23 October 2023 04:10 PM

Why is he given another ministerial position? He should have been kicked out of the cabinet. What hold has he got on Ranil? Is Keheliya funding the UNP from the santhosams he collects?

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jo Monday, 23 October 2023 05:50 PM

Their one

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DJ Monday, 23 October 2023 07:40 PM

So now he can destroy the Enviromint too. what a joke. A land like no other.

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Vadivelu Yogaratnam Monday, 23 October 2023 07:53 PM

What is wrong with our president, a corrupt minister cannot fit to run any ministry, basic common sense well Lankan politicians posses no common sense at all.

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Danny Monday, 23 October 2023 08:33 PM

For health sector worst performed but for his family’s future he earned enough from deals.

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John Fernando Monday, 23 October 2023 08:57 PM

LOL real jokers, How come he won by large scale against the motion but now swapping by President? isn't it clear indication that the entire parliament and ministers are corrupted to the most and the real champion is Ranil, look how many countries he travelled to. He is adjusting all the Bills now to make it a way for his next presidential win. Hard to believe just thrown by people to garbage bin now become the president and want to stick with it. In front of the camera very good actor too. and can dance on the floor to any tunes too.

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RP Monday, 23 October 2023 09:33 PM

Congratulations to the Environment Minister Rambukwella. I guess, the Public-Service mentality wouldn't let him quit the politics? At last, our patients won't die from low quality/inferior drugs but the Environment?

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