Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s Anticipatory Bail Application Rejected; Admitted to Hospital

13-Oct-2026

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The Maligakanda Magistrate's Court has rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

She had filed the application seeking to prevent her arrest by the police in connection with investigations conducted by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division into alleged financial irregularities involving the Siriliya Saviya organisation.

When the application was taken up on October 6, the court directed the officer-in-charge of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division to appear and submit a report. During the subsequent hearing, the Magistrate rejected the request for anticipatory bail.

Meanwhile, Shiranthi Rajapaksa had already been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in connection with a separate investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving Siriliya Saviya. Under an order of the Colombo Magistrate's Court, she had been remanded until October 13.

The allegation is that Rs. 10 million obtained from the National Savings Bank was transferred to the Siriliya Saviya organisation's account on the pretext of purchasing a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, but the money was misappropriated.

Pradeep Kariyawasam, the former chairman of the National Savings Bank, was also arrested in connection with the matter and was subsequently released on bail.

Lawyers appearing for Shiranthi Rajapaksa argued that the funds remained secure in the bank account and that the money had been raised to purchase equipment valued at Rs. 160 million.

Despite these submissions, her anticipatory bail application was rejected while the allegations under the Public Property Act remained pending. She was also admitted to the cardiology unit of the Colombo National Hospital for medical examinations.