Sri Lanka's former first lady arrested over alleged misuse of hospital funds

File photo: Prison officers escort Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, to a prison vehicle outside a magistrate's court in Colombo Sri Lanka’s former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the wife of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been arrested over allegations of misusing LKR 10 million (approx 29.3 lakhs) linked to a charity she headed.The 73-year-old was arrested at her Colombo home on Wednesday by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). She was later produced before a Colombo court, which ordered her to remain in custody until October 13 while investigations continue.What is the case against Shiranthi Rajapaksa?The investigation centres on Siriliya Saviya, a charitable organisation headed by Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Investigators allege that LKR 10 million obtained from the state-run National Savings Bank was meant to help provide a CT scanner to Colombo’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, but that the scanner was not supplied and the funds were instead misused.The case also involves former National Savings Bank chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam, who was arrested over allegations that the money was t...