Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested in Colombo on Friday in connection with an investigation into the alleged misuse of government funds. The arrest, a landmark event in Sri Lankan politics, occurred after he was summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning.
The charges against him relate to a trip he made to London in September 2023, while he was president, to attend his wife’s university graduation ceremony. Authorities allege that the trip, which was part of a larger overseas tour, was not an official engagement and was improperly funded by the state. The CID claims that government money was used for his travel and that his bodyguards were also paid for by the state. Wickremesinghe’s office has denied any misuse of public funds, stating that his wife’s travel expenses were met by her.
After his arrest, Wickremesinghe was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court, which ordered him to be held in custody until August 26 for a fresh hearing. This development is being seen as a major move by the new government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which came to power on an anti-corruption platform.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, a veteran politician who has served as prime minister six times and president from 2022 to 2024, is credited with helping to stabilize Sri Lanka’s economy during its worst-ever financial crisis.
