Case Files Suppression Covering 11 Years Against Shiranthi Rajapaksa Exposed
Investigations into Shiranthi Rajapaksa regarding financial crimes, which originally began on June 1, 2015, and were subsequently suppressed, are being reactivated.
The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) recorded a statement from Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Speaker’s official residence concerning the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ bank accounts. Although these investigations were stalled under the Ranil-Maithri administration, inquiries resumed on July 4, 2025. Detailed coverage of these developments, as originally reported by BBC Sinhala, is detailed below.
BBC Sinhala | June 1, 2015
The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) questioned Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, today (01). Former President’s media spokesman Rohan Weliwita confirmed to the BBC that the questioning session had concluded.
The former First Lady was questioned regarding the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ bank account maintained under her name. The interrogation followed a complaint alleging suspicious transactions, including the deposit of tens of millions of rupees into the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account at the People’s Bank, Suduwella branch in Maradana, from numerous bank branches across the island. The complainant party also pointed out that Shiranthi Rajapaksa provided a fake National Identity Card (NIC) number to open the account.
Although media personnel gathered outside the FCID headquarters expecting the interrogation to occur there, reports indicate it took place at the Speaker’s official residence due to security considerations. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied his wife to the location.
BBC Sinhala | July 4, 2025
Account records relating to the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ project, operated by Shiranthi Rajapaksa under the guise of a social service initiative, have become a subject of discussion once again.
Speaking in Parliament recently, Deputy Minister of Justice Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala stated:
“Listen to this—Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, operated a suspicious account under the name ‘Siriliya Saviya’ using false information. This account is now proven to be fraudulent. The mandate form [application form] for opening the account has gone missing from the bank. We are investigating who caused it to disappear.”
Responding to a question from an Opposition MP, the Deputy Minister noted that the current balance in the account stands at LKR 43 million.
“On November 14, 2006, account number 143-1-001-4-6235069 was opened at the People’s Bank, Suduwella branch, Darley Road, Colombo 10, by presenting false information without submitting the legally required documents. Transactions in this account are currently suspended, and the remaining balance is LKR 43 million,” he stated.
“The President of this account is Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the Secretary is Seetha Kalyani Dissanayake, and the Treasurer is Nirosha Jeewani. A total of LKR 82,988,000 was deposited across 88 instances, while LKR 39,015,656 was withdrawn in 129 instances. A fixed deposit of LKR 10 million was also established under the name ‘Siriliya’ at the same bank branch. Investigations into this account are being conducted by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.”
The ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account (No. 143100146235069) was opened at the Suduwella branch of the People’s Bank as a joint account involving three individuals, including former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
The address provided for all three individuals was Carlton House, Tangalle. However, Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s National Identity Card number was listed as 222222222V. Under Sri Lanka’s legacy NIC system, the first two digits reflect the holder’s birth year; since Shiranthi Rajapaksa was not born in 1922, critics pointed out that using such a number was fraudulent.
In 2017, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) summoned Shiranthi Rajapaksa to record a statement regarding ongoing investigations into the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen. The summons related to a Land Rover Defender jeep provided to her ‘Siriliya Saviya’ organization by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.
The Red Cross had previously informed the CID that the Defender vehicle bearing registration number (WP) KA-0642 was allocated to Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s ‘Siriliya Saviya’ organization from August 2011 to January 20, 2015. However, she failed to appear at the CID on the scheduled date of July 27, 2017.
In a press release issued in 2015, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society confirmed that CID officers had questioned its officials on June 30, 2015, regarding the vehicle’s transfer.
01. https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-40738894
02. https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri_lanka/2015/08/150810_tr_thajudeen_jeep_red_cross
03. https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri_lanka/2015/06/150601_lanka_shiranthi_siriliyasawiya
Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala emphasized in Parliament that investigations into the Siriliya accounts would be reactivated under the current administration.
“Unfortunately, this file was shelved at the Attorney General’s Department. We inform the country that under our mandate, these investigations will be reopened under the National People’s Power (NPP) government.”
While formal judicial proceedings are not currently active, previous investigation reports have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department.
Speculation recently circulated on social media claiming that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had requested chief prelates (Mahanayake Theros) to intervene with the sitting President to prevent the impending arrest of Shiranthi Rajapaksa. However, on July 1, 2025, activists from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) lodged a complaint with the CID requesting an investigation into these claims, labeling them as false propaganda.
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