File photo: Prison officers escort Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, to a prison vehicle outside a magistrate’s court in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa , has been arrested over allegations of misusing LKR 10 million (approx 29.3 lakhs) linked to a charity she headed. The 73-year-old was arrested at her Colombo home on Wednesday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). She was later produced before a Colombo court, which ordered her to remain in custody until October 13 while investigations continue.
Mahinda Rajapaksa dominated Sri Lankan politics for years, serving as president from 2005 to 2015 and gaining popularity after government forces defeated the LTTE in 2009, ending the 26-year civil war. His popularity waned amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power, and he lost the presidency in 2015. The family returned to power in 2019 when his brother Gotabaya became president, but his government was eventually overwhelmed by an economic crisis that triggered mass protests in 2022 and forced him to resign and flee the country.
His family subsequently became a powerful political dynasty, with his brothers, sons and other relatives holding key positions.
What is the case against Shiranthi Rajapaksa?
Investigators allege that LKR 10 million obtained from the state-run National Savings Bank was meant to help provide a CT scanner to Colombo’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, but that the scanner was not supplied and the funds were instead misused. He was later released on bail.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s lawyers told court that the funds remain in the Siriliya Saviya bank account and have not been misappropriated. The investigation centres on Siriliya Saviya, a charitable organisation headed by Shiranthi Rajapaksa. The case also involves former National Savings Bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, who was arrested over allegations that the money was transferred to the Siriliya Saviya account without following proper procedures. There is a dispute over what happened to the money.