The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (13) ordered prison officials to immediately verify claims that former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is undergoing open-heart surgery at the Colombo National Hospital, according to media reports.
It is reported that the order was issued after President’s Counsel Anil Silva, appearing on behalf of Rajapaksa, informed the court that she had suffered a sudden heart attack while in prison yesterday (12) and had subsequently been admitted to the cardiac surgery unit of the Colombo National Hospital.
The lawyer further claimed that Rajapaksa was undergoing open-heart surgery at the time the case was taken up.
However, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the prosecution, informed the court that although Rajapaksa had been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, prison authorities had not received any information confirming that she was undergoing surgery.
Following the conflicting submissions, the Chief Magistrate instructed prison officials in open court to immediately ascertain whether Rajapaksa was undergoing open-heart surgery and report the findings to the court.
The Magistrate observed that the report submitted by prison officials only confirmed that Rajapaksa had been admitted to Ward 61 of the Colombo National Hospital, without providing details of her medical condition or any surgical procedure.
Rajapaksa was not produced before court when the case was taken up today.
The case relates to allegations of financial irregularities involving the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ account, in connection with which the former First Lady was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The court subsequently postponed the case until 2.00 p.m. today (13), pending the submission of a report from prison authorities verifying her medical condition and the claims regarding surgery.
There has been no official confirmation that she is undergoing surgery. (Newswire)
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