Shiranthi Rajapaksa faces investigation into alleged financial crimes

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is facing multiple investigations regarding alleged financial crimes and corruption in Sri Lanka. She is scheduled to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on September 24 to provide a statement.

Key allegations include irregularities involving the Siriliya Saviya Foundation, which she headed. Investigators are examining the misuse of approximately Rs. 100 million from the National Savings Bank, which was reportedly donated to the foundation without proper verification under the claim that funds were needed to purchase a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.

Additionally, authorities are looking into the alleged misuse of customs duty waivers intended for the Ministry of Sports to import luxury buses that were reportedly provided to a preschool run by Rajapaksa. Other inquiries involve suspicious transactions at a People’s Bank branch and the use of allegedly false National Identity Card numbers for account signatories.