Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa admitted to hospital for urgent medical care
Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been admitted to the ICU for urgent medical care. His hospitalization occurs amidst ongoing legal investigations into his family members regarding alleged financial irregularities.
Why it matters
The health status of a former head of state is significant given the current political climate in Sri Lanka and the ongoing anti-corruption efforts by the current administration.
Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was admitted to a hospital on Monday (October 12, 2026) for urgent medical care and is being kept under observation in the intensive care unit, his party said.
The 80-year-old leader was admitted to hospital in the morning, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said.
He is in the ICU, where doctors are keeping him under observation, it said.
Mr. Rajapaksa's hospitalisation comes amid legal proceedings involving his family, with his wife Shiranthi and elder son Namal facing separate investigations over alleged financial irregularities.
Namal Rajapaksa, a parliamentarian and senior figure in the Opposition SLPP, was remanded in September in connection with an investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing.
His mother was also remanded last week in a separate case involving the alleged misuse of public funds.
Mahinda Rajapaksa served as Sri Lanka's President from 2005 to 2015 and later as Prime Minister.
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