By Bhagya Silva
Colombo, Oct. 13 (Daily Mirror) - Additional Solicitor General told the court that the MRI scanner received as a donation from the Chinese Government was subsequently handed over to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children as a donation by the Siriliya Saviya organisation. He further stated that the handover ceremony had been held on the birthday of a child of the second suspect.
The ASG also informed the court that doctors Ranmanthri and Ratnasiri of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children had provided statements confirming that the MRI scanner was a donation from the Chinese Government.
The Colombo National Hospital Deputy Director of Health Services informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today that no medical recommendation had been issued for Shiranthi Rajapaksa to undergo open-heart surgery.
The case against Shiranthi Rajapaksa and former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, who are accused of misappropriating public funds by obtaining Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank on the pretext of providing a CT scanner to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children through the Siriliya Saviya organisation, was taken up again today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
At that stage, the Deputy Director of Health Services in Colombo, acting in accordance with court orders, submitted a three-page medical report on suspect Shiranthi Rajapaksa and informed court that there was no medical recommendation at present for her to undergo open-heart surgery.
The medical report also informed court that a medical recommendation had been made only for an angiogram of the suspect’s heart. It further stated that a medical board had been appointed at the Colombo National Hospital to determine what medical treatment she required.
When the case was called in the morning, Additional Solicitor General Deelipa Peeris, appearing for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption told court that the Siriliya Saviya organisation had been used to launder black money.
Additional Solicitor General Deelipa Peeris,
“Your Honour, for the first time, the Financial Crimes Investigation Division and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption have entered into an agreement and are jointly conducting this investigation with mutual consent. Accordingly, charges have been filed against the suspects under the Public Property Act and Section 70 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
“On December 28, 2010, the second suspect, using letterhead bearing the designation ‘First Lady, Shiranthi Rajapaksa’, requested the National Savings Bank to provide Rs. 140 million for a project called Carlton Suwa Udana. Subsequently, the amount was verbally changed to Rs. 50 million.
“Funds were also credited to this account by the National Lotteries Board, Sri Lanka Insurance and Seylan Bank. Requests were also made to these institutions.
“Later, on December 8, 2010, the first suspect held discussions regarding this matter. An agreement was reached at that time to provide Rs. 10 million. The amount was approved on December 30, 2010.
“During this period, on May 4, 2011, the second suspect instructed the first suspect to credit the money to the Siriliya Saviya account maintained at the Maradana branch of the Bank of Ceylon instead of the Carlton Suwa Udana account.
“However, there was no approval from the board of directors for this transfer. Nevertheless, the first suspect proceeded to transfer the money to the Siriliya Saviya account, stating that the request had been made by the First Lady.
“Your Honour, the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo received an MRI scanner from the Chinese Government as a donation in 2014.
“When the Sri Lankan Government requested a loan from the Chinese Government, it had requested that this MRI scanner be provided. The Sri Lankan Government had also asked the Chinese Government to deduct the price of the scanner from the loan amount being provided.
“The MRI scanner received as a donation from the Chinese Government was subsequently handed over to the hospital as a donation made by the Siriliya Saviya organisation. The first suspect was also invited to that event.
“The donation was made on the birthday of a child of the second suspect. Doctors Ranmanthri and Ratnasiri of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children have given statements confirming that the MRI scanner was a donation from the Chinese Government.
“Furthermore, Your Honour, the hospital already had a CT scanner at that time.
“This account was initially opened in 2006 under the name ‘Shiranthi Nawodaya’. Three months later its name was changed to ‘Siriliya Saviya’.
“This organisation was not formally registered and no official reports had been submitted by it. Nevertheless, the State emblem was used, the address of the Presidential Secretariat was used as though it were a State institution, and correspondence was issued on letterheads identifying Shiranthi Rajapaksa as the First Lady.
“To use the State emblem, a person must hold a State position.
“Your Honour, this Siriliya Saviya organisation was an organisation used to launder black money. Further investigations into the incident are being conducted and additional suspects are also due to be arrested.
“Therefore, the prosecution objects to granting bail to the second suspect.”
Subsequently, President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing for the second suspect, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, made submissions to court and requested bail on her behalf.
President’s Counsel Anil Silva,
“Your Honour, I will not make submissions on the factual circumstances of the incident at this stage. However, I reject all the facts presented by the prosecution.
“The suspect is suffering from a heart condition. Her condition worsened last night and she was admitted to the National Hospital. She is currently undergoing open-heart surgery. I request that this be considered a special circumstance and that she be granted bail.
“On the previous date, it was also stated that she was a heart patient and that three of her arteries were blocked. However, she was not granted bail.
“Your Honour, nobody undergoes open-heart surgery suddenly. This is not a lie. I cannot present a more exceptional circumstance on her behalf than this.
“This suspect has been remanded because she is Shiranthi Rajapaksa. If she were ‘Podi Menike’, this would not happen.
“This is the first time in my professional career that I have presented such an exceptional circumstance. If this cannot be accepted as a special circumstance, then tear out the page setting out the special circumstances required to grant bail to a suspect.
“Your Honour, I have never heard anyone ask for a suspect to be remanded even if that person dies.
“Therefore, I request that the suspect be granted bail…”
Responding to this, Additional Solicitor General Deelipa Peeris stated that although the suspect had been admitted to hospital, the prosecution had not been informed that she was undergoing surgery.
Additional Solicitor General Deelipa Peeris,
“Your Honour, we are aware that the suspect was admitted to hospital yesterday, but the prosecution has not been informed that she is undergoing heart surgery at present.
“We have not received definite information regarding this matter. Therefore, it must be verified whether the suspect has received a medical recommendation for such surgery.”
At that point, President’s Counsel Anil Silva asked, “Are they waiting until she dies?”
The Additional Solicitor General then made submissions before court regarding the events that had taken place after the suspect was remanded.
Additional Solicitor General Deelipa Peeris,
“Your Honour, on September 10, 2026, the facts relating to this incident were reported and the suspect was summoned to provide a statement relevant to the investigation. The day after that, she was admitted to hospital, claiming to be suffering from a heart condition.
“The day after she was discharged from hospital, she travelled to Singapore. She subsequently returned to Sri Lanka on October 6.
“When she came out of the airport, there was no indication that she was suffering from any illness. She did not even come out of the airport with her eyes closed.
“However, when we went to arrest her, she was covering one eye, claiming that she had undergone eye surgery. I do not know whether that was true or false.
“This series of events is a performance.
Thereafter, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama addressed the prison officials and directed them to submit a report on the suspect’s health condition.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama,
“The prison officials’ report states that the suspect is receiving treatment in Ward No. 61.
“The President’s Counsel says that the suspect is currently undergoing heart surgery. The Additional Solicitor General appearing for the prosecution says that no information regarding this has been reported to them.
“What treatment is the suspect receiving in that ward? Is what the President’s Counsel appearing for the suspect has stated true? Is the suspect undergoing such surgery?
“Investigate all these matters and submit a report to court.”
At that point, President’s Counsel Anil Silva again addressed court and said,
“Your Honour, I wish to correct what I said earlier. I have now received instructions that the surgery is not being performed at this moment. However, the suspect is scheduled to undergo surgery.”
After considering the submissions, the Chief Magistrate granted prison officials time to submit a report on the suspect’s health condition and ordered that the case be recalled at 2 p.m.
When the case was recalled at 2 p.m., a three-page medical report on the suspect’s health condition was submitted by the Deputy Director of Health Services in Colombo, in response to a written request made by the Superintendent of Prisons to the Director of the Colombo National Hospital, in accordance with the court order issued in the morning.
After studying the medical report, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama stated that no exceptional circumstances had arisen to granting bail to the suspect.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama,
“I have received a report consisting of three pages. The report does not contain any medical recommendation stating that open-heart surgery is necessary.
“There is a recommendation for an angiogram to be performed. The report also mentions the suspect’s medical conditions and states that her life could be at risk if she does not receive treatment. It further states that she cannot be brought to court.
“I do not want anyone to be kept in remand custody. However, sufficient exceptional circumstances are required to grant bail.
“The report also states that a medical board will meet this evening to discuss what treatment the suspect requires.
“Therefore, there are no exceptional circumstances at this stage to grant bail to the suspect. The court must be informed of the suspect’s medical conditions on the next date through the recommendations of the medical board. If exceptional circumstances arise at that stage, bail can be considered.
“I direct the Superintendent of Prisons to submit a report to court on Friday detailing the suspect’s medical progress and health condition.”