The Aporia · Sri Lanka's former first lady arrested over alleged misuse of hospital funds

Sri Lanka's former first lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly misusing LKR 10 million (approximately 29.3 lakhs) meant to acquire a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children through her charity, Siriliya Saviya. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arrested Rajapaksa at her home in Colombo and ordered her to remain in custody until October 13 while investigations continue. Rajapaksa’s defense claims the funds are still intact in the charity's account, but officials question their intended use given that a scanner was already donated by China.

Written by AI on 2026-10-08, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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On October 7, 2026, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the ex-wife of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested in Colombo by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged misuse of funds from her charity, Siriliya Saviya Foundation. The 73-year-old had traveled to Singapore for medical treatment but returned on October 5, only to be served with a summons and subsequently arrested at the airport. She is accused of misusing LKR 10 million ($29,300) donated by the state-run National Savings Bank intended for purchasing a CT scanner for Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo. The court ordered her to remain in custody until October 13 pending further investigation and denied anticipatory bail she sought earlier. Additionally, former bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was arrested but later released on bail after questioning regarding the transfer of funds without proper procedures. This arrest is part of ongoing investigations into corruption allegations against the influential Rajapaksa family, which previously dominated Sri Lankan politics for nearly two decades.

Written for “Sri Lanka Charity Graft Probe” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Sri Lanka Charity Graft Probe

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Former Sri Lankan first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrested on charges of misusing donation funds and corruption Same event

Euronews

⚖️ Leans left Hedges 1 of 16 claims Outlet record 60/100

Sri Lanka arrests ex-First Lady in charity graft probe Same event

The Hindu

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has been arrested over allegations of misusing LKR 10 million (approx 29.3 lakhs) linked to a charity she headed. asserted

she → arrest → charity

The 73-year-old was arrested at her Colombo home on Wednesday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). asserted

old → arrest → Bribery

She was later produced before a Colombo court, which ordered her to remain in custody until October 13 while investigations continue. asserted

investigations → produce → October

The investigation centres on Siriliya Saviya, a charitable organisation headed by Shiranthi Rajapaksa. asserted

investigation → centre → Rajapaksa

Investigators allege that LKR 10 million obtained from the state-run National Savings Bank was meant to help provide a CT scanner to Colombo’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, but that the scanner was not supplied and the funds were instead misused. asserted

funds → allege → Children

The case also involves former National Savings Bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, who was arrested over allegations that the money was transferred to the Siriliya Saviya account without following proper procedures. asserted

money → involve → procedures

He was later released on bail. asserted

He → release → bail

There is a dispute over what happened to the money. asserted

what → be → money

Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s lawyers told court that the funds remain in the Siriliya Saviya bank account and have not been misappropriated. asserted

funds → tell → account

Her defence also said the organisation had been trying to raise about LKR 160 million for the CT scanner. asserted

organisation → say → scanner

Sri Lankan officials have also pointed to the fact that a scanner had already been donated to the hospital by China, raising questions over the purpose of the funds collected for the equipment. asserted

scanner → point → equipment

Rajapaksa has denied wrongdoing. asserted

Rajapaksa → deny → wrongdoing

She was closely associated with Siriliya Saviya, which undertook charitable and welfare activities during her years as first lady. asserted

which → associate → lady

Mahinda Rajapaksa dominated Sri Lankan politics for years, serving as president from 2005 to 2015 and gaining popularity after government forces defeated the LTTE in 2009, ending the 26-year civil war. asserted

forces → dominate → war

His family subsequently became a powerful political dynasty, with his brothers, sons and other relatives holding key positions. asserted

brothers → become → positions

His popularity waned amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power, and he lost the presidency in 2015. asserted

he → wan → 2015

The family returned to power in 2019 when his brother Gotabaya became president, but his government was eventually overwhelmed by an economic crisis that triggered mass protests in 2022 and forced him to resign and flee the country. asserted

that → return → country

Why are the Rajapaksas facing corruption cases now? asserted

Rajapaksas → face → cases

Sri Lanka’s current president Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to power in 2024 on an anti-corruption platform and pledged to pursue cases involving alleged wrongdoing under previous governments. asserted

president → come → governments

His government has since revived several investigations involving members of the Rajapaksa family. asserted

government → revive → family

Shiranthi’s arrest follows legal troubles involving her sons as well. asserted

arrest → follow → sons

Her eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa, a lawmaker and former minister, has been detained in a separate bribery case. asserted

son → detain → case

Another son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was also arrested earlier this year on corruption-related allegations. asserted

son → arrest → allegations

Sri Lanka's former first lady arrested over alleged misuse of hospital funds

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