By Roy Denish.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa is in Singapore for medical treatment ahead of a September 24 FCID appearance over the Siriliya Saviya inquiry.
Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s departure for Singapore for medical tests at Mount Elizabeth Hospital has sparked intense public debate and scrutiny, coming shortly after she was formally summoned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) regarding the Siriliya Saviya Foundation.
After spending about a week receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo, she reportedly travelled directly to Bandaranaike International Airport, where FCID officers approached her to serve a notice requiring her to appear and provide a statement on the 24th. A relative travelling with her reportedly accepted the notice on her behalf.
Attorney Manoj Gamage, speaking on behalf of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, firmly rejected allegations that the trip was an attempt to evade the investigation. He said the journey was strictly for medical purposes and maintained that she would return on the 19th and cooperate fully with the authorities.
Clarifying the financial background of the foundation, Gamage said donations originally intended for the purchase of medical equipment for a public hospital were later redirected towards the construction of a children’s ward after alternative arrangements had been made for the equipment.
He stressed that neither Shiranthi Rajapaksa nor members of her family had used the funds for personal gain, maintaining that the money remained secure in the bank. He also described the investigation as a politically motivated “witch-hunt.”
Beyond the immediate defence, investigative authorities and historical audit records indicate that the inquiry extends to questions over procedural compliance, including how charitable accounts were managed, registered and utilised within state infrastructure during her tenure as First Lady.
Authorities are continuing to review banking records across several institutions to determine whether the required legal and administrative procedures were followed when donor funds were redirected, setting the stage for a high-profile inquiry following her scheduled return.
