Shiranthi to the island - No arrest at the airport

Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had gone to Singapore amidst controversial news, returned to the island on the 5th at midnight. She was not arrested at the airport, and accordingly, she will face activities including appearing before the FCID in the coming days.

An anticipatory bail application was submitted to the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court on the 5th, stating that there was a possibility of her being arrested at the airport upon her return to the country and requesting that such an eventuality be prevented. According to that letter, she had gone to Singapore for medical treatment. She had requested that if she were to be arrested upon returning to Sri Lanka after receiving medical treatment abroad, she be released on bail under any condition deemed appropriate by the court.

The application filed through Mr. Jayabalan, Attorney-at-Law, was called before Maligakanda Magistrate Mrs. Janani Perera. It was stated that Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa was named as the petitioner and the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department as the respondent. Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had departed for Singapore from Bandaranaike International Airport in the early hours of September 16th. The day before, she had been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo due to an illness, and it was stated that she had gone to Singapore for further medical treatment.

Police had stated that she had been informed to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on September 24th. The Daily Mirror had reported that the summons was handed over to her at the airport a few minutes before her flight departed, and that there was no travel ban against her at that time.

Although the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) later stated that Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had traveled abroad despite receiving a summons, a member of the Rajapaksa family had denied those reports. That family member had stated that she had not received any summons from the FCID before arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport, and that the summons was received only when she had arrived at the airport and was preparing to leave the country.

This investigation is being conducted regarding transactions related to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation, which operated under the patronage of Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and it is stated that funds provided to that charity for the donation of a scanner machine to a children's hospital are also included.

A source from the Ministry of Public Security had told the Sunday Times that if she does not appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) before the extended period given to her expires, the police would take steps to obtain a travel ban. The same source also stated that if such a ban were imposed, she could be arrested upon her arrival at the airport.

A spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had previously stated that although a tentative date had been given for her return, the actual date of return would be determined by the medical treatment required in Singapore. However, several video reports circulated on social media showing her engaging in street tours in that country, disregarding her medical condition, which ridiculed the information provided by her and her lawyers.