Sri Lanka's Former First Lady Arrested Over Charity Misuse Allegations

Sri Lanka's former first lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was arrested Wednesday at her Colombo home by anti-corruption authorities over allegations that a charity she is associated with misused donations. The 73-year-old wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is being questioned regarding 10 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $30,300) collected by the Siriliya Saviya charity.

Officials state the funds were intended for a specialized scanner for Colombo's Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. However, authorities claim the hospital had already received such a scanner as a donation from the Chinese government. Rajapaksa has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the money has not been misappropriated. Her lawyers had filed a petition to prevent her arrest, with a hearing scheduled for October 12.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on Monday from Singapore, where she had been receiving medical treatment. A spokesperson for ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Manoj Gamage, stated that the money remains in the charity's accounts and that no fraud has occurred.

The Rajapaksa family held significant political influence in Sri Lanka for many years. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as president from 2005 to 2015 and is credited by some with ending the country's nearly three-decade civil war in 2009. However, widespread protests erupted in 2022 amid soaring inflation and shortages of essential goods, leading to the ousting of his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was president at the time.

The current government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has resumed stalled corruption investigations involving members of the Rajapaksa family. Earlier this year, the former first couple's eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa, was arrested in connection with an aircraft procurement deal from his father's presidency and remains in remand custody. Another son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was also arrested this year on corruption charges.