Sri Lanka arrests former 1st lady over alleged corruption

Former Sri Lankan first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was arrested on Wednesday over alleged corruption, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa, 73, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was produced before a Colombo court over allegations that she obtained 10 million Sri Lankan rupees ($30,250) from the National Savings Bank to provide a CT (computed tomography) scanner to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children through the Siriya Saviya organization, but failed to provide the scanner and allegedly misappropriated the government funds for her personal use. A judge ordered her to be remanded till Oct. 13, according to local media.

Former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam was also arrested in connection with the case, but was released on bail and a foreign travel ban was imposed on him.

Kariyawasam was produced before the court over allegations that, in his capacity as an official of a state bank, he facilitated the transfer of the funds to the Siriya Saviya account in violation of proper procedures.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has revived corruption investigations against members of the Rajapaksa family, which dominated Sri Lankan politics for about two decades.