Shiranthi Rajapaksa Leaves Country As Long-Stalled Sriliya Investigation Is Revived

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, left for Singapore in the early hours of today (16).

Her departure came after she had been informed to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division on September 24 in connection with an investigation involving accounts linked to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa had been notified to appear before investigators as part of the ongoing inquiry.

However, at around 1.10 a.m. today, she departed for Singapore accompanied by a female relative.

Meanwhile, a member of the Rajapaksa family rejected reports suggesting that Shiranthi Rajapaksa left the country after being formally summoned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.

According to the family member, she had travelled to the airport directly from a private hospital in Colombo.

The family member further claimed that while her flight had been scheduled to depart at approximately 12.50 a.m., an airport official handed over the summons letter near the departure gate shortly before boarding.

It was also claimed that prior to that moment, Shiranthi Rajapaksa had not been informed or notified to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division to provide a statement.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division has launched a renewed investigation into alleged irregular transactions linked to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation, where Shiranthi Rajapaksa served as Chairperson.

Although investigations into the matter date back to 2015, sources familiar with the inquiry said the files had remained stalled at various stages over the years before recently being reactivated.

Several key transactions have now come under scrutiny as part of the revived investigation.

Among them are allegations relating to funds transferred to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation by state institutions, the importation of vehicles for the organization under tax concessions, and the use of vehicles belonging to the foundation by the CSN network.

Investigators are also examining fundraising campaigns conducted to purchase a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the manner in which those funds were utilised.

Previous investigations had reportedly revealed that the CT scanner in question had in fact been received as a donation from a foreign country.

The inquiry is also focusing on funds collected and spent for HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, as well as details relating to a Colombo residence allegedly owned by Shiranthi Rajapaksa that had been listed as the address of the foundation's treasurer.

Investigators have additionally revisited concerns surrounding a bank account that had reportedly been opened using the National Identity Card number "222222222V" as Shiranthi Rajapaksa's identification number.