Sri Lanka’s political landscape is undergoing a significant shift as authorities intensify investigations into corruption allegations involving members of the Rajapaksa family, which has held substantial power over the country for decades. The latest development came with the arrest of Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the former first lady and wife of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Wednesday.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa, 73, was taken into custody at the Kirulapone residence, where Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently staying. She stands accused of financial irregularities connected to her Siriliya charity, which officials suspect was utilized for money laundering. Among the specific allegations is that she raised funds for a PET scanner for a children’s hospital despite the equipment having already been donated by the Chinese government. Shiranthi’s brother, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, has also faced corruption charges during his time as chairman of state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines and is currently out on bail.
The Rajapaksa family has been a central force in Sri Lankan politics, but the 2022 economic crisis led to a decisive political shift. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected in 2024 to succeed Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has made anti-corruption efforts a key priority. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in 2025, Dissanayake emphasized the risks of ignoring corruption, signaling a tough stance against entrenched political elites.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who led Sri Lanka from 2019 until his resignation in 2022 amid economic turmoil and public protests, remains under scrutiny. He is banned from foreign travel as investigations continue into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which claimed 279 lives. Gotabaya’s former intelligence chief, Suresh Sallay, currently in custody, faces accusations of orchestrating the attacks to destabilize the country ahead of Gotabaya’s election—an allegation both men deny. Gotabaya is also being investigated for alleged kickbacks related to the 2006 purchase of four MiG aircraft.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served as president from 2005 to 2015, faces separate allegations over a $2.3 billion Airbus aircraft deal from 2013. The case suffered a setback after a key witness reportedly died by suicide in May. Mahinda's sons are also under legal scrutiny: Namal Rajapaksa, a prominent opposition legislator seen as the family’s political heir, was arrested on September 4 and remains in custody on charges of money laundering and corruption tied to the Airbus deal. Yoshitha Rajapaksa is out on bail amid allegations of misusing state funds for overseas training and money laundering, while the youngest son, Rohitha Rajapaksa, is being questioned over unexplained wealth.
Basil Rajapaksa, Mahinda’s youngest brother and a former economic development minister, faces two arrest warrants—one over the alleged purchase of land with illicit funds and another for misuse of state resources during the 2014 election. Basil, who holds U.S. citizenship, is believed to be in the United States, prompting Sri Lankan authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Notice to track his whereabouts.
Additional family members, including Shasheendra Rajapaksa, a nephew of Mahinda and former deputy minister, have also been indicted. Shasheendra faces charges of defrauding the state of approximately $29,500 related to compensation claims for property allegedly not owned by him. His brother, Shaminda Rajapaksa, is under investigation for alleged kickbacks connected to the Airbus deal and is believed to be abroad.
Despite the mounting charges, Rajapaksa family representatives maintain their innocence and accuse the current government of conducting a political witch-hunt. However, President Dissanayake’s administration continues to pursue investigations that many see as a test of Sri Lanka’s commitment to addressing corruption and restoring public trust following years of political dominance by the Rajapaksas.