Shiranthi Rajapaksa was arrested by CIABOC after questioning at her Kirulapone residence over alleged financial irregularities linked to Siriliya Saviya.
COLOMBO — Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was arrested on Wednesday by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption after investigators recorded a statement from her at her residence in Kirulapone.
Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was questioned for nearly two hours before being taken into custody in connection with an ongoing investigation linked to the Siriliya Saviya organisation and its financial affairs.
Her arrest follows a series of legal and investigative developments surrounding the Siriliya Saviya accounts, including an anticipatory bail application filed earlier this week and a separate summons requiring her to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division on October 13.
The arrest has been reported as part of CIABOC’s investigation into alleged financial irregularities connected to the organisation. No court has yet found Rajapaksa guilty of any offence.
Arrest Follows Statement Recorded at Residence
CIABOC officers visited Rajapaksa’s residence on Poorwarama Road in Kirulapone on Wednesday morning and recorded a statement from her.
After approximately two hours of questioning, she was taken into custody.
Contemporary reports say the inquiry concerns financial transactions linked to Siriliya Saviya, the charitable initiative associated with the former First Lady.
The precise charges, if any, to be formally placed before court will depend on the next stage of the investigation and any subsequent submissions by CIABOC.
It is important to distinguish arrest from conviction. Rajapaksa remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until a court determines otherwise.
Siriliya Saviya Accounts Under Scrutiny
The Siriliya Saviya organisation has been under investigation over financial transactions and the handling of accounts linked to the charity.
Rajapaksa’s arrest is the latest step in that wider inquiry.
On the same day, former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was also arrested by CIABOC in connection with the Siriliya Saviya investigation.
The existence of multiple arrests does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing by any individual. Each allegation must be tested against financial records, witness evidence and the applicable law.
Rajapaksa Returned to Sri Lanka on Monday Night
Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on the night of October 5 after travelling abroad for medical treatment.
Reports state that she arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport at approximately 11:26 p.m. on Malaysia Airlines flight MH179 from Kuala Lumpur.
She had left Sri Lanka for Singapore on September 16 after receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
Her overseas travel and subsequent return became closely watched because investigative authorities had previously sought a statement from her regarding the Siriliya Saviya matter.
FCID Summons Fixed for October 13
Police informed Rajapaksa that she was required to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division on October 13 in connection with the Siriliya Saviya investigation.
That summons remained separate from Wednesday’s arrest by CIABOC.
The distinction is legally important because the FCID and CIABOC are separate investigative bodies operating under different mandates.
Rajapaksa’s anticipatory bail application filed earlier in the week was linked to concerns over possible arrest in connection with the FCID investigation.
Anticipatory Bail Application Filed Before Return
On October 5, Rajapaksa’s lawyers filed an anticipatory bail application before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court.
The application sought protection against possible arrest in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Siriliya Saviya account.
Court proceedings on the application continued on October 6, when notice was issued requiring the Officer-in-Charge of the FCID to appear before court on October 12 and make submissions.
Wednesday’s arrest by CIABOC was therefore procedurally distinct from the investigative agency named in the anticipatory bail proceedings.
Questions Now Shift to Court Process
Rajapaksa’s arrest moves the matter from investigative questioning into a more formal legal stage.
The next steps are expected to depend on whether CIABOC produces her before court, seeks further custodial orders, or proceeds under another legal mechanism available to the Commission.
Any allegation concerning financial irregularities must now be supported by documentary evidence, account records, witness statements and any other material investigators place before court.
The legal process will also determine whether the arrest leads to formal charges, bail proceedings or further investigation.
For now, the central facts are clear: Rajapaksa has been arrested by CIABOC after questioning at her residence, while a separate FCID summons and anticipatory bail application remain part of the wider Siriliya Saviya investigation.
