By Ruwan Weerakoon
(Lanka-e-News -13.Sep.2026,5.00 AM) Due to the investigation involving former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam (husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake), serious legal trouble has surfaced.
Rs. 10 million meant for Lady Ridgeway Hospital scanner allegedly misappropriated as Chinese-donated machine was passed off as foundation-funded.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a broad probe into allegations that Rs. 10 million drawn from the National Savings Bank (NSB) to purchase a CT scanner for Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo was never used for that purpose — with a machine donated by the Chinese government allegedly presented to the hospital in its place.
The investigation centers on members of the Siriliya Saviya Foundation, including former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, along with other connected parties.
Officers from the CID's Financial Crimes Investigation Division are conducting the probe under the direction of Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, PC, who is supervising on behalf of the Attorney General.
During Mahinda Rajapaksa's presidency, Shiranthi Rajapaksa — acting as Chairperson of the Siriliya Saviya Foundation — reportedly wrote to the NSB requesting funds to donate a CT scanner to the children's hospital.
Based on that letter and verbal instructions attributed to former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, Rs. 10 million was released to the foundation. Preliminary findings indicate that a CT scanner the Chinese government provided to Sri Lanka under a credit facility was instead presented to the hospital as the foundation's donation, while investigators allege the Rs. 10 million was misappropriated.
Investigators have recorded statements from Kariyawasam and several others. The CID is expected to summon Shiranthi Rajapaksa, foundation board members, and other relevant officials as the investigation continues.
---------------------------
by (2026-09-12 23:34:22)
Read 2916 Times
Leave a Reply
0 discussion on this news