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Pahalage Rohitha Piyatissa Abeygunawardena (Sinhala: රෝහිත අබේගුණවර්ධන, Tamil: ரோஹித அபேகுணவர்தன) (born 21 September 1966) is a Sri Lankan politician and businessman.[1] He was the Minister of Nation Building. He is a representative of Kalutara District for the United People's Freedom Alliance in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. On 27 November 2019, he was appointed as Minister for Energy[2] On 12 August 2020, he was appointed as the minister of ports and shipping.[3]
Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Udarata Development | |
| In office 2004–2007 | |
| Minister of Nation Building | |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation | |
| In office 2010 – 9 January 2015 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kalutara District | |
| Assumed office 2001 | |
| State Minister of Energy | |
| Assumed office 27 November 2019 | |
| Minister of Ports and Shipping | |
| In office 12 August 2020 – 18 April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mahinda Samarasinghe |
| Succeeded by | Pramitha Tennakoon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 September 1966 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Sri Lanka Freedom Party |
| Other political affiliations | United People's Freedom Alliance |
| Residence(s) | 4/3/A First Lane, Gangadara Road, Sirimal Uyana, Ratmalana |
Education
editRohitha Abeygunawardena was educated at Gnanodaya Vidyalaya, Kalutara.[4]
Early career
editHe was the driver of minister Ediriweera Premarathna and taking his trust to build his political career. Daughter of Ediriweera even stated to an article the first time to get the driving job, he came in a bicycle.[5]
Investigations
editAbeygunawardena was questioned in September 2008 on allegations of undeclared assets estimated at more than Rs. 450 million. The two officers who were conducting the investigation were later transferred out of the Bribery commission.[6]
The Commission of Bribery and Corruption filed a case against Abeygunawardena on 8 January 2016 over undeclared and illegally earned assets worth over Rs 41.1 million.[7] The Director General of the Bribery Commission alleged that the minister made 66 unlawful monetary transactions, constructed a house and purchased a jeep.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Rohitha Abeygunawardana". Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2009-03-12.
- ^ "38 State and Deputy Ministers sworn in". Newsfirst. MTV Channel (Pvt) Ltd. 27 November 2019.
- ^ LBO (2020-08-12). "Swearing-in ceremony for Sri Lanka's new Cabinet". Lanka Business Online. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ^ "Rohitha Abeygunawardana – Manthri.lk". www.manthri.lk. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
- ^ Ediriweera, Achini (23 May 2016). "How Did My Father's Driver, 'Raththaran' Stack Up Billions In 10 Years?". Colombo Telegraph. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ "The Sunday Times".
- ^ "HC commences trial against Rohitha Abeygunawardena". Daily News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- ^ Sooriyagoda, Lakmal. "HC commences trial against Rohitha Abeygunawardena". Daily News. Retrieved 2019-11-30.