Has Shiranthi fled the country? FCID to be summoned What will happen?
It is reported that Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa has departed from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake for Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ-469 at 1.10 am today (September 16).
It is reported that Ms. Anne de Livera, the aunt of Rohitha Rajapaksa, has also travelled with her.
This foreign travel is particularly significant as it took place when Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa was scheduled to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on September 24.
It was recently reported that she is scheduled to be questioned in connection with the FCID investigation regarding matters including a deposit of Rs. 10 million related to Siriliya Saviya.
However, although it was reported that Shiranthi Rajapaksa had gone to Singapore, there is no evidence to suggest that she would not return, that she had gone to escape the case/investigation, or that her departure abroad was illegal.
The FCID investigation into the Siriliya Saviya account and the Rs. 10 million has once again drawn attention to Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa.
It is important to distinguish between the political allegations being spread on social media and the verifiable facts.
Here are the main facts that have been confirmed....
According to information reported on September 14, 2026, the FCID is investigating the transfer of Rs. 10 million from the National Savings Bank to the Siriliya Saviya account.
The investigation focused on information that this money was obtained for the purpose of purchasing a CT Scan machine for the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital in Colombo. However, it has been reported that the hospital had later been provided with a CT Scan machine by the Chinese government.
The main question of the FCID investigation arises from there. What ultimately happened to the Rs. 10 million taken to purchase the CT Scan machine?
It is reported that the FCID has also questioned bank officials and the members of the NSB board of directors at that time in this regard.
Another important point is that the investigators have reportedly discovered that the money was transferred to accounts maintained in Maradana and Suduwella branches on the basis of a written request made by the Siriliya Saviya organization.
Accordingly, the basic question facing the country now is simple. What was the Rs. 10 million taken from a state bank ultimately spent on? That is the question.
A statement has been obtained from Shiranthi Rajapaksa earlier too....
This is not an investigation that started yesterday. It was reported that on February 3, 2026, Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had given a statement to the FCID for more than four hours. The Morning newspaper reported it as a statement that lasted nearly five hours.
According to the News 1st report, the investigation into the Siriliya account first began in 2015 during the Yahapalana government, and its focus was on suspicious transactions that allegedly took place during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Therefore, this cannot be described as a newly created political allegation. It is a financial investigation into an account that has been under investigation for many years.
But the September 16 incident raises another question...
On September 16, 2026, at 1.10 am, Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa departed from Katunayake Airport on Singapore Airlines SQ-469 flight.
This trip took place when she was scheduled to appear before the FCID on September 24. Here, two points should be responsibly distinguished.
First: Having an FCID summons does not mean that a person is legally prohibited from traveling abroad.
Second: It has not been confirmed that she was under a travel ban imposed by the court.
It should also be clear about the reason for her traveling abroad....
Some reports published today cite sources that she went to Singapore for an emergency surgery. However, this fact has not been confirmed by an independent official report to this point. Therefore, it should not be considered a confirmed fact, but only a reported fact.
So what should the country demand now?...
Here, more important than whether a person is affiliated with a political party, the wife of a former president, or an ordinary citizen, is the ultimate truth of the transaction involving public money.
Therefore, five questions require specific answers.
1. What was the letter submitted to the NSB to provide Rs. 10 million?
2. To which accounts was that money actually transferred?
3. Was a CT Scan machine purchased with that money?
4. If not, by whom and for what purpose was the money ultimately used?
5. Who are the people responsible for that transaction?
Only if these questions are answered can it be determined according to law whether what occurred was a legal financial transaction, an administrative irregularity, or a criminal offense.
One yardstick for everyone...
These reports do not show that the court has ruled that Ms. Shiranthi Rajapaksa is guilty.
But at the same time, it is said that Rs. 10 million was obtained from a state bank and given for the purpose of purchasing a CT Scan machine, and if the machine was obtained from another source, the country has the right to know what happened to that money in the end.
Furthermore, her official explanation regarding her going abroad when there was an FCID summons and whether she will appear for the September 24 summons are matters that need to be clarified in the future.
This should be the only yardstick regardless of the political party. If it is state money, the transaction should be clear.
If it is an investigation, it should be concluded on the basis of evidence.
If there is a mistake, the law should be implemented.
If it is not a mistake, that too should be explained with evidence.
What the people want is not political propaganda but the complete truth about what happened to the Rs. 10 million.
Jayalathge Sunil Gamini✍️
