A court in Sri Lanka's capital has extended the custody of the wife of former powerful President Mahinda Rajapaksa, marking another severe blow to the political dynasty that dominated the island nation for nearly two decades before being ousted by mass uprisings.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa was detained amid allegations that a charity she led misused donations intended for a children's hospital in Colombo. Investigators claim the foundation allegedly solicited funds for equipment already donated by a foreign government and diverted the money toward acquiring real estate, though allied political figures have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The legal dragnet has also ensnared other prominent family members, including the former leader's son Namal Rajapaksa, who remains in custody over corruption and bribery charges related to past government deals. Additional relatives face ongoing probes into money laundering, unauthorized land transfers, and illicit asset acquisition, significantly crippling the family's political standing.

While representatives of the Rajapaksa-aligned party dismiss the proceedings as a politically motivated witch-hunt by the current administration, independent observers and legal experts argue that these prosecutions are a fulfilment of the anti-corruption mandate that brought the new government to power.

Source: www.aljazeera.com