Sri Lanka’s Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa Arrested Over Alleged Fraud

Sri Lanka’s former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested on Wednesday over allegations of fraud and misuse of funds linked to her NGO Siriliya Saviya. The arrest came as Sri Lankan authorities intensified investigations into financial activities associated with the Rajapaksa family.

Officials of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested the 73-year-old at the Rajapaksa residence in Kirulapone, Colombo, after recording her statement for nearly two hours. She was subsequently taken to the bribery commission.

According to the bribery commission, Rajapaksa allegedly obtained LKR 10 million from a state bank and committed offences under Sri Lanka’s Public Property Act and corruption-related provisions through the alleged misuse of the funds. The investigation concerns transactions involving an account linked to the Siriliya Saviya Fund.

Rajapaksa had returned to Sri Lanka on Monday after travelling abroad for medical treatment. She had left the country for Singapore on September 16 after being admitted to a private hospital in Colombo. The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) had earlier summoned her to provide a statement in connection with its investigation into Siriliya Saviya, which she headed during her husband's presidency from 2005 to 2015.

Before her return, her lawyers filed an anticipatory bail application before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court, seeking protection from arrest. The court subsequently issued notice to the FCID officer in charge to appear on October 12 in connection with the application.

The arrest adds to mounting legal pressure on the Rajapaksa family. Namal Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s elder son and an opposition Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna lawmaker, was arrested on September 4 in an alleged bribery investigation linked to the purchase of aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. He has since faced further remand orders in separate corruption-related cases, including an investigation connected to the Krish Hotels project.

The latest action against Shiranthi Rajapaksa comes amid a broader anti-corruption drive by Sri Lankan authorities targeting alleged financial wrongdoing involving political figures and members of the former ruling establishment.