Shiranthi Rajapaksa travels to Singapore amid foundation fund probe

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has traveled to Singapore for medical treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Her departure occurred amid investigations by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) regarding alleged financial irregularities at the Siriliya Saviya Foundation.

FCID officers served a summons notice to Rajapaksa at Katunayake International Airport as she prepared to board her flight. A relative accepted the document on her behalf. Attorney Manoj Gamage, spokesperson for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, denied that the trip was an attempt to evade the law, stating she is scheduled to return on the 19th to appear before the FCID on the 24th.

Regarding the foundation's finances, Gamage clarified that funds originally raised to purchase a PET scan machine for child cancer patients at Apeksha Hospital remain untouched. After the Chinese government provided the machine free of charge, the foundation decided to use the collected funds, including a 2 million rupee donation from People’s Bank, to construct a children’s ward instead. Gamage emphasized that no funds were used for personal use by Rajapaksa or her family.