Shiranthi’s defence: Rs. 10 million remains in Siriliya Saviya account

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, through her lawyers, told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that funds received by the Siriliya Saviya organisation remain in its bank account, rejecting allegations that the money had been misused.

Rajapaksa was remanded until October 13 after being arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in connection with an investigation into funds received by Siriliya Saviya.

Appearing for Rajapaksa, President’s Counsel Anil Silva told court that Siriliya Saviya had operated as a government-approved welfare organisation since 2006 and had undertaken various charitable activities.

The defence said it did not dispute that Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank had been credited to the Siriliya Saviya account. However, it argued that the money had not been misappropriated and remained in the account at the Suduwella branch.

According to the defence, the organisation had been attempting to raise approximately Rs. 160 million to purchase a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.

By 2014, however, only around Rs. 42 million had been raised, the lawyer said.

The defence told court that following the change of government and a subsequent complaint, the bank account was frozen, preventing the organisation from continuing its fundraising campaign.

“Even today, the money is in that account,” the defence submitted, according to Ada Derana’s court report, arguing that the CT scanner could not be purchased because the organisation had raised only Rs. 42 million of the required Rs. 160 million when the account was frozen.

The defence further argued that if the freeze on the account were lifted, the National Savings Bank could recover the money it had provided.

The Bribery Commission, however, presented a different account to court.

Investigators alleged that the Rs. 10 million in state funds provided by the NSB had been transferred to Siriliya Saviya outside the proper procedure. They further alleged that former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam had committed an offence under the Bribery Act and that Rajapaksa had aided and abetted the alleged offence.

The Commission also told court that investigations had uncovered other funds credited to the Siriliya Saviya account, including Rs. 8.8 million from the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rs. 22 million from Huawei.

Investigators further alleged that a house in the Torrington area had been purchased using funds linked to the disputed NSB payment. These allegations were contested by Rajapaksa’s defence.

Rajapaksa was subsequently ordered to be remanded until October 13, while Kariyawasam was granted bail.