Remanded former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has been moved to a ward for general female inmates at Welikada Prison, the Department of Prisons said on Friday, after she was taken to the National Eye Hospital for examination.
NewsFirst reports that the Prisons spokesman said she had been held until Friday morning in a ward designated for female patients, and was transferred to the general ward after the hospital referral. Doctors at the Eye Hospital examined her that morning and prescribed medication.
How the referral came about
Hiru News reported earlier in the day that she was due to be taken to the National Eye Hospital on Friday — and not to a private hospital. She had been produced before the prison specialist on Thursday over an eye condition, and the referral to a specialist at the National Eye Hospital followed that medical recommendation.
NewsFirst adds that at Thursday’s examination blood and other samples were taken for medical tests.
The case
Rajapaksa was arrested on 7 October by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. NewsFirst describes the allegation as the misappropriation of Rs. 10 million obtained from a state bank, under the Corruption and Offences Against Public Property Act. Hiru frames the same matter as an alleged financial irregularity in the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account.
Hiru reports she was remanded until 13 October by the Colombo Additional Magistrate after being produced in court on 7 October.
A note on names
The Prisons spokesman is rendered Senaka Pallethanne by NewsFirst; other outlets have given his name as Pallethenna and Pallegetenna. These are transliteration variants of the same official, not different spokesmen.
Not reported
Neither filing names the eye condition or says whether further hospital visits are expected, and neither explains what distinguishes the patients’ ward from the general ward in practice. Neither carries comment from her lawyers or family, and neither says whether a bail application has been filed ahead of the 13 October date.
