Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption commission on Wednesday arrested former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at her Polhengoda residence in Colombo over allegations of fraud and the misuse of public funds. The 73-year-old wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa faces accusations under the Public Property Act and anti-corruption laws linked to financial irregularities within the Siriliya Saviya foundation, an NGO she led during her husband’s presidency. Investigators state the inquiry centers on the procurement of LKR 10 million from a state bank and the subsequent handling of those funds.
Arrest Follows Medical Visit to Singapore
The arrest took place just two days after Rajapaksa returned to Colombo from Singapore, where she had traveled for medical treatment. Prior to her departure roughly two weeks ago, officials from the Financial Crimes Investigation Division served her a notice at the airport directing her to appear before an inquiry panel on September 24. Upon her return on Monday, her legal team filed an anticipatory bail application to prevent detention by police investigators, who had rescheduled her interview for October 13. Officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption nonetheless moved forward with Wednesday’s operation.
Focus on Siriliya Saviya Foundation Accounts
State agencies have intensified their examination of the financial dealings of the Siriliya Saviya foundation, which Rajapaksa managed throughout the 2005 to 2015 presidential administration. Investigators are reviewing the non-governmental group’s transactions, focusing on how money drawn from a state bank was allocated and whether public resources were diverted. Authorities confirmed that legal proceedings and statutory actions are being applied directly under anti-corruption provisions governing public assets.
Mounting Legal Pressures on Rajapaksa Family
The enforcement action marks an escalation in ongoing official scrutiny surrounding the financial affairs of the Rajapaksa family during their years in power. Her eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa, an opposition lawmaker with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, has been held in Colombo Remand Prison since September 4 while facing separate bribery investigations across two cases. Authorities have indicated that the inquiries remain active, with formal court proceedings set to determine the validity of the charges as legal processes move forward.
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