Sri Lanka’s police summoned former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa for questioning as part of an investigation into allegations that her charity misused donations, officials said on September 16. The move is part of a broader effort by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration to revive anti-corruption probes involving members of the Rajapaksa family, who were a dominant force in Sri Lankan politics for nearly two decades.
Shiranthi Rajapaksa, 73, received the summons from the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) shortly before boarding a flight to Singapore for medical treatment, according to family spokesman Manoj Gamage. He dismissed claims that she was attempting to evade authorities. “She is not trying to flee the country but traveling for medical treatment,” Gamage said, adding that she has been undergoing eye treatment and intends to return to Sri Lanka after her procedures.
The inquiry centers on funds raised by Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s Siriliya Saviya charity, which collected approximately 10 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $30,750) purportedly for a PET scanner to be installed at a local cancer hospital. Investigators told a court that the scanner had already been donated by the Chinese government, raising concerns that the charity continued soliciting donations unnecessarily and misappropriated the collected funds. Gamage denied any misappropriation, asserting that the money had not been misused.
The investigation into Shiranthi Rajapaksa is part of a wider series of legal actions targeting the Rajapaksa family. Namal Rajapaksa, the former first lady’s eldest son and an opposition lawmaker, is under investigation over allegations linked to a 2013 Airbus aircraft deal signed during the presidency of his father, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Namal Rajapaksa was recently charged with money laundering related to this transaction and was remanded in custody until September 23.
The Rajapaksa family has consistently denied corruption allegations, characterizing the investigations as politically motivated. Mahinda Rajapaksa served as president of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and continues to be an influential political figure, despite the family’s decline in power following widespread protests that led to the resignation of his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, from the presidency in 2022.
Authorities say the renewed focus on these cases is part of the current government's commitment to tackling corruption at all levels, although critics of the government suggest the timing and targeting of these probes may be influenced by political considerations. The investigations remain ongoing.