Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Sri Lanka's Former First Lady Arrested Over Alleged Charity Graft
Sri Lanka's anti-corruption commission arrested Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the country's former first lady.
The investigation concerns LKR 10 million connected to her charity, Siriliya Saviya.
Investigators say the money was collected to buy a scanner for a children's hospital, but reports disagree about the scanner type and hospital.
They also say China had already donated the scanner.
Rajapaksa denies doing anything wrong and says she will challenge the allegations.
She had recently returned from Singapore, where she went for medical treatment.
A former state bank chairman was also arrested in the charity investigation and was later reported released on bail.
One report says Rajapaksa was remanded until October 13, while another says a court would decide about bail.
These are allegations, not established findings.
CIABOC arrested 73-year-old Shiranthi Rajapaksa on Wednesday over alleged misuse of LKR 10 million linked to her Siriliya Saviya charity.
Investigators say the money was raised for a scanner for a children's hospital; reports differ on whether it was a CT scanner for Lady Ridgeway Hospital or a PET scanner for a children's cancer hospital.
Investigators said the scanner had already been donated by the Chinese government, while Rajapaksa denied wrongdoing and said she would contest the allegations.
Reports place her arrest at her Colombo residence in either Kirulapone or Polhengoda; one says she was remanded until October 13, while another describes a pending court decision on bail.
Former National Savings Bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was also arrested in connection with the charity investigation and was reported released on bail; former foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama was arrested in a separate case.
- Who
- Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's former first lady and head of Siriliya Saviya; former National Savings Bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was also arrested in the related investigation.
- What
- Rajapaksa was arrested over alleged misuse of LKR 10 million linked to her charity.
- When
- Wednesday, October 7, according to the reports.
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka; reports give her residence's location as Kirulapone or Polhengoda.
- Why
- CIABOC alleges that funds associated with the charity were obtained from a state bank and misused.
Investigators' allegations
Rajapaksa's response
Use of charity funds
Investigators' allegations
Investigators allege that LKR 10 million linked to Siriliya Saviya was misused, and say the scanner for which donations were raised had already been donated by China.
Rajapaksa's response
Rajapaksa denies wrongdoing and says the money was not misappropriated; her lawyer said she would contest the allegations.
Political context
Investigators' allegations
The reports describe President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government as reviving or pursuing corruption investigations involving members of the Rajapaksa family.
Rajapaksa's response
The Rajapaksa family has denied corruption allegations and described cases against its members as politically motivated.
- Arresting agency
- Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC)
- Alleged amount
- LKR 10 million
- Charity
- Siriliya Saviya
- Rajapaksa's age
- 73
- Related bank
- National Savings Bank
- Related arrest
- Former bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam; one report says he was released on bail
- Scanner accounts
- Reports variously identify a CT scanner for Lady Ridgeway Hospital or a PET scanner for a children's cancer hospital; investigators said China had donated the scanner
- Court status
- One report says Rajapaksa was remanded until October 13; another says a magistrate would decide on bail
Sources
Sri Lanka Arrests Ex-First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Charity Graft Case
Sri Lanka’s former first lady Rajapaksa arrested for fraud
Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa Family Under Pressure After Former First Lady's Arrest
Sri Lanka’s ex-first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, 2 others arrested in high-profile graft cases
