Shiranthi Rajapaksa to Be Produced Before Prison Doctor

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Prisons says remanded suspect Shiranthi Rajapaksa will be produced before the prison doctor.

Prisons Spokesperson Senaka Palllethenna said further action will be taken based on the doctor’s recommendations.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa is currently being held in remand custody at the women’s section of Welikada Prison.

She was remanded until October 13 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was arrested yesterday morning by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption over allegations of obtaining Rs. 10 million from a state bank and for committing offences under corruption laws and the Public Property Act through the alleged misuse of those funds.

Meanwhile, the court ordered the release on bail of former state bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, who was also arrested in connection with the same investigation.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa is accused of obtaining Rs. 10 million from a state bank, claiming the funds were required to provide a CT scanner to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children through the Siriliya Saviya organisation.

She is alleged to have criminally misappropriated public funds by using the money for personal purposes instead of providing the scanner to the hospital.

Pradeep Kariyawasam, the former chairman of a state bank and husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, was arrested over allegations that he transferred the relevant funds to the Siriliya account without following proper procedures.