Lawyers for former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that money received by the Siriliya Saviya organisation remains in its bank account and was not misused.
President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for Rajapaksa, said Siriliya Saviya has been a government-approved welfare organisation since 2006. The defence did not dispute that Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank (NSB) was credited to its account at the Suduwella branch, but said the money had not been misappropriated.
The defence said the organisation was trying to raise about Rs. 160 million for a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. By 2014 it had raised around Rs. 42 million, and the account was later frozen after a complaint, the court was told.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption gave a different account. Investigators alleged the NSB money was transferred outside proper procedure, that former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam committed an offence under the Bribery Act, and that Rajapaksa aided and abetted it. They also alleged that a house in Torrington was bought with funds linked to the payment. The defence contested this.
Rajapaksa was remanded until 13 October. Kariyawasam was granted bail.
