Mahinda in Hospital, Namal in Court: Rajapaksa Family Hit by Legal and Health Crises

Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo, while his son Namal Rajapaksa appeared in court in a bribery case. According to NewsWire, Mahinda Rajapaksa went to the hospital yesterday for a general medical checkup. The newspaper, citing sources close to him, reported that his condition is stable. Reports circulating that his condition was serious and that he was being treated in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were denied by his team. However, as of Tuesday, the matter had not been confirmed by independent parties. Namal Rajapaksa, National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and a member of parliament, was produced today before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court in connection with a case involving a bribe of 100 million rupees related to the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. According to Sri Lankan media reports, Namal, who was arrested on the fourth of last month, remains in remand custody. The case is being investigated by the commission that looks into corruption and bribery cases. In addition, a hearing in another bribery case involving 70 million rupees related to the Krrish Property Development project was also scheduled for Tuesday. Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was transferred on Monday from the prison hospital to the Cardiac Care Unit of the National Hospital in Colombo. At today's court hearing, her lawyer said open-heart surgery has been scheduled for her at the National Hospital. In connection with this, the Colombo Chief Magistrate has instructed prison officials to confirm whether the surgery will actually go ahead and to report back to the court. The hearing has been postponed until 2:00 pm until that report is received. Shiranthi Rajapaksa was arrested last Wednesday. The case concerns alleged misappropriation of 10 million rupees given by the National Savings Bank to the Siriliya Saviya Foundation for the purchase of a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. According to investigators, the money was misused and the medical equipment that was to be given to the hospital was never provided. Yesterday, the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court rejected her bail application. The Rajapaksa family has been influential in Sri Lanka's political scene for many years, particularly during the period when Mahinda Rajapaksa served as president from 2005 to 2015. However, the family's political popularity has diminished amid corruption allegations and the economic crisis that hit the country in 2022. The protests that arose in connection with that crisis forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. Two years ago, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was elected in 2024, came to power promising to work against corruption. The cases currently proceeding are separate matters being investigated by the relevant authorities.