Court Calls for FCID Response on Shiranthi's Anticipatory Bail Plea

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, returned to Sri Lanka last night after spending several weeks overseas.

The Maligakanda Magistrate's Court today issued notice on the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division to appear before court on October 12 and present submissions regarding her anticipatory bail application.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa arrived in Sri Lanka from Malaysia at around 11.20 p.m. Monday (5) night.

She had left the country on September 16 despite having been summoned by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division in connection with an investigation into transactions linked to the Siriliya Saviya organization.

Although she had been instructed to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division on September 24, Shiranthi Rajapaksa remained overseas. At the time, those speaking on her behalf stated that she was expected to return to Sri Lanka on September 19.

However, she failed to return within the stated period, and an anticipatory bail application was filed on her behalf before the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court yesterday morning.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka later that night, after the anticipatory bail application had been filed.

The application states that she had travelled overseas for medical treatment due to a health condition and that there was a possibility of her being arrested upon her return to Sri Lanka. She therefore requested an order preventing such an arrest.

When the anticipatory bail application was taken up before court today, Maligakanda Magistrate, having considered the submissions made by President's Counsel Anil Silva appearing on behalf of Shiranthi Rajapaksa, issued notice on the Director of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division to present facts before court regarding the application.

The Director of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division has been named as the respondent in the anticipatory bail application.