Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after providing a statement regarding the ‘Siriya Saviya’ account, has been remanded until October 13.
Colombo Additional Magistrate Darshika Premaratne issued the order.
Rajapaksa was arrested and brought to the CIABOC after investigators recorded her statement for nearly two hours.
Presidential Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for Shiranthi Rajapaksa, told court that the relevant funds are still securely held in the ‘Siriya Saviya’ account at the Suduwella branch.
He further stated that Rs. 160 million had been required to purchase a CT scanner, but only around Rs. 42 million had been collected by 2014.
He also said the account had been suspended following a complaint made after the change of government.
Meanwhile, the court ordered the release on bail of Pradeep Kariyawasam, former Chairman of the National Savings Bank, who was arrested by CIABOC in connection with the investigation into the ‘Siriya Saviya’ account.
Kariyawasam, who is the husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, was released on two personal sureties of Rs. 10 million each.
The court also imposed a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.
