Sri Lanka arrests ex-First Lady in charity graft probe
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa as part of a renewed investigation into alleged misuse of charity funds. The probe centers on donations intended for a children's hospital that were reportedly misappropriated.
Why it matters
The arrest signals a significant shift in Sri Lankan politics as the current administration pursues corruption cases against the formerly dominant Rajapaksa family.
Sri Lanka's anti-graft authority arrested former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) over allegations that her charity misused donations collected for a children's hospital.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government has revived long-dormant graft investigations involving members of the once-powerful Rajapaksa family, which dominated Sri Lankan politics for nearly two decades.
The 73-year-old wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was arrested in Colombo, and will be taken before a magistrate, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said.
"The arrest is in connection with her Siriliya Saviya Foundation," a CIABOC official told reporters at the Rajapaksa home in the capital.
She travelled to Singapore on September 16 for medical treatment, and was served with a summons at Colombo airport to provide a statement to police about her charity.
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