Business · Sri Lanka Bureau
Former First Lady Faces Fresh Questioning Over Charity Fund Misuse
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division has launched a comprehensive probe into alleged irregularities involving Rs. 10 million donated to a charitable account under Shiranthi Rajapaksa's name. The funds, sourced from the National Savings Bank, are at the centre of widening scrutiny into the 'Siriliya Saviya' initiative.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) have initiated an extensive inquiry into the handling of Rs. 10 million that was deposited into the 'Siriliya Saviya' account, according to sources familiar with the matter. The funds, donated through the National Savings Bank, were received by an account administered by Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The investigation centres on allegations that the charitable donation may have been misappropriated or used contrary to its stated purpose. The FCID's involvement signals growing official concern about the fund's management and deployment during a period of intensified scrutiny into donations and charitable giving involving high-profile public figures.
This marks a fresh round of questioning for Rajapaksa in connection with the account. Previous inquiries into 'Siriliya Saviya' had already drawn attention to the fund's operations, though details of the earlier investigation remain limited.
The development comes amid broader efforts by financial crime investigators to examine large fund transfers and donations received by politically connected individuals and their family members. Officials have not disclosed specifics regarding the fund's intended beneficiaries or how the money was subsequently utilised.