Set to question Shiranthi over Siriliya CT Scan scam - falls ill beforehand

The Attorney General has instructed the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division to record a statement from Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, regarding alleged financial irregularities in the Siriliya Saviya Fund account. Accordingly, the police are taking steps to obtain the relevant statement from her on an upcoming date, and it is also reported that she is scheduled to be summoned before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.

According to these investigations, it has been revealed that a financial fraud was committed by crediting one crore rupees obtained from the National Savings Bank, intended for the purchase of a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, to the Siriliya Saviya Fund account. These funds, obtained from the bank, were misused for other purposes despite the CT scanner being provided free of charge by the Chinese government. Interrogations of bank officials have revealed that these funds were transferred to accounts maintained at the Maradana and Suduwella branches following a written request made by the Siriliya Saviya organization.

However, Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa underwent emergency heart surgery at a private hospital in Colombo last Friday, and specialist doctors have recommended complete bed rest for her during the next few weeks following the surgery. Due to her current medical condition, the police had decided to conduct the relevant questioning at a later date.

Investigations into the irregularities of this account, which was maintained during the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, began during the Good Governance government. Investigations are already underway, led by a senior police officer, into what happened to the 10 million rupees obtained from a state bank. The police further state that there are many suspicious facts regarding the Siriliya Saviya account, and Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa has previously been questioned for over four hours in connection with this incident.