Colombo Additional Magistrate Darshima Premaratne on Wednesday ordered that Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, be remanded until 13 October.
She was produced in court over allegations that she obtained Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank (NSB) on the pretext of providing a CT scanner to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children through the Siriya Saviya organisation. The prosecution alleged the scanner was not provided and that she dishonestly misappropriated the state bank’s funds for her own use.
She is charged under Section 70 of the Bribery Act for allegedly aiding and abetting, and under the Public Property Act No. 12 of 1982.
Former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, was granted bail on two sureties of Rs. 1 million each, and a foreign travel ban was imposed. The prosecution alleged that, as an official of a state bank, he facilitated the transfer of the funds to the Siriya Saviya account in breach of proper procedure, and aided and abetted her under the same section of the Bribery Act.
The matter returns to court on 13 October.
