Shiranthi Rajapaksa was taken into custody on Wednesday evening at the Kirulapone residence where former president Mahinda Rajapaksa is staying, according to anti‑corruption officials. The arrest follows a 15‑year‑old case alleging financial irregularities tied to her Siriliya charity, which investigators say may have served as a money‑laundering conduit.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, elected in 2024 after the 2022 economic crisis, has made fighting corruption a central theme of his administration. He told the UN General Assembly in 2025 that "fighting corruption is dangerous, but not fighting it presents even graver risks."
The move is part of a broader probe that has already targeted several other Rajapaksa relatives. Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 77, faces inquiries over the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings and alleged kickbacks from a 2013 Airbus deal. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons—Namal, 40; Yoshitha, 38; and Rohitha, 37—are each accused of money‑laundering or misuse of public funds, while his youngest brother Basil, 75, has two arrest warrants and is currently abroad under an Interpol Blue Notice.
A Colombo shopkeeper, 65, said he feared the crackdown would affect small businesses, but also expressed hope that the new administration would finally bring justice to ordinary citizens. "We have lived through so much corruption that we barely know where to trust," he told reporters.
Police have already seized key documents and are preparing indictments against the remaining family members. The case will be heard by the Colombo High Court next month, and prosecutors expect to file formal charges that could culminate in a series of high‑profile trials.