Ramith Rambukwella

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Ramith Rambukwella

| image =

| country = Sri Lanka

| fullname = Ramith Laksen Bandara Rambukwella

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|9|8|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kandy, Sri Lanka

| death_date =

| death_place =

| family = Keheliya Rambukwella (father)

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm offbreak

| role = Opening batsman

| club1 = Sinhalese Sports Club

| year1 = {{nowrap|2011–present}}

| clubnumber1 =

| club2 = Tamil Union CAC

| year2 =

| clubnumber2 =

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2013–2016

| T20Idebutagainst = New Zealand

| T20Idebutdate = 21 November

| T20Idebutyear = 2013

| T20Icap = 50

| lastT20Iagainst = England

| lastT20Idate = 5 July

| lastT20Iyear = 2016

| T20Ishirt =

| columns = 3

| column1 = T20I

| matches1 = 2

| runs1 = 19

| bat avg1 = 19.00

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 19

| deliveries1 = 39

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 46.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/19

| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–

| column2 = FC

| matches2 = 35

| runs2 = 1,028

| bat avg2 = 21.87

| 100s/50s2 = 0/6

| top score2 = 91*

| deliveries2 = 4,123

| wickets2 = 81

| bowl avg2 = 29.23

| fivefor2 = 2

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 8/102

| catches/stumpings2 = 37/–

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 38

| runs3 = 496

| bat avg3 = 19.07

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 49*

| deliveries3 = 1,356

| wickets3 = 34

| bowl avg3 = 31.17

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 4/30

| catches/stumpings3 = 13/–

| date = 10 March

| year = 2018

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/394871.html Cricinfo

| module = {{Infobox medal templates | titlestyle = background-color: lightsteelblue; | expand=yes

| medals = {{MedalCountry| {{SRI}}}}

}}

Ramith Rambukwella (born 8 September 1991) is a professional Sri Lankan first-class cricketer who plays for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club and Twenty20 Internationals for Sri Lanka national side.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/394871.html |title=Ramith Rambukwella |accessdate=28 January 2016|work=ESPN Cricinfo}} Ramith has been named as a suspect in the allegations of misappropriating approximately Rs. 8 million from Ministry funds to pay salaries and maintain staff, despite these individuals not rendering any official services.{{cite news |title=Keheliya further remanded; His son named suspect in Rs. 8M misuse case |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Keheliya-further-remanded-His-son-named-suspect-in-Rs-8M-misuse-case/108-309317 |work=Daily Mirror |date=16 May 2024 |access-date=20 May 2025}}

His father Keheliya Rambukwella was a minister and was a member of parliament in Sri Lankan government and has been remanded in 2025 over the same allegation.{{cite web | url=http://magazine.lankahelp.com/2011/02/07/ramith-rambukwella-minister-keheliya-rambukwellas-son-is-an-emerging-cricket-star/ | title=Minister Keheliya Rambukwella's Son | publisher=magazine.lankahelp | accessdate=6 July 2016}}

Domestic career

In April 2018, he was named in Galle's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.{{cite news |url=http://www.thepapare.com/slc-super-provincial-50-tournament-squads-fixtures/ |title=SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures |work=The Papare |accessdate=27 April 2018}} In August 2018, he was named in Dambulla's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League.{{cite news |url=http://www.thepapare.com/slc-t20-league-2018-squads-finalized/ |title=SLC T20 League 2018 squads finalized |work=The Papare |accessdate=16 August 2018}}

International career

He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against New Zealand on 21 November 2013 as the 50th T20I cap for Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-new-zealand-2013-14/engine/current/match/668969.html |title=New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I: Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Pallekele, Nov 21, 2013 |accessdate=28 January 2016|work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

Rambukwella, who was in UK with the Sri Lanka A team in July 2016, was called up to Sri Lanka's squad for the T20I against England on 5 July 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-sri-lanka-2016/content/story/1032279.html | title=Rambukwella called into Sri Lanka's T20 squad | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | date=4 July 2016 | accessdate=6 July 2016}}

Personal life

Rambukwella is married to his longtime partner Natali, where the wedding was celebrated on 3 May 2017 in Galle Face Hotel.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Arrest and misbehavior

In May 2025, Rambukwella was remanded until June 3 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court following his arrest. The case stems from allegations that during his tenure as Minister of Mass Media, Health, and Environment in 2021–2023, Keheliya Rambukwella appointed several close associates to his personal staff and unlawfully obtained allowances on their behalf. Investigations by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) revealed that these actions caused a financial loss exceeding Rs. 8 million to the state.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2025/05/21/admin-catagories/breaking-news/782494/ramith-rambukwella-remanded-until-june-3-by-colombo-magistrate/ |title=Ramith Rambukwella remanded until June 3 by Colombo Magistrate |publisher=Daily News |date=21 May 2025 |accessdate=21 May 2025}}

On 18 July 2013, Rambukwella was fined with 50% of his tour fee of the West Indies after causing mild panic on a flight by attempting to open the cabin door at 35,000 feet. He was drunk at that time, where he had mistaken the cabin door for the lavatory, and suggested he had been half-asleep, which is what prompted the error.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/652583.html |title=Rambukwella fined for flight incident |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=11 March 2017}}

In September 2013, he was arrested following a car accident in Colombo, which struck a wall.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/1058290.html |title=Rambukwella arrested after car mishap |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=11 March 2017}} He was arrested again in March 2018, for involving in drunk driving and assault.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22710971/ramith-rambukwella-arrested-assault-drunk-driving-charges |title=Rambukwella arrested on assault and drunk driving charges |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=10 March 2018}}