Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested today by police, a move linked to alleged misuse of state funds during his presidency. Initial reports indicate that Wickremesinghe is facing three charges concerning the foreign trips he undertook while in office, particularly a controversial stopover in the UK following a G77 summit in Cuba in 2023. On Friday, Wickremesinghe appeared at the magistrates' court in Colombo after having already provided a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) earlier in the day.
Despite his application for bail on health grounds, Wickremesinghe remains in custody. His presidency, which lasted from 2022 until 2024, was marked by a national crisis leading to his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fleeing the country. After assuming power, Wickremesinghe was credited with initiating measures that aimed to stabilize the nation’s economy.
During his tenure, he is reported to have taken 23 foreign trips, costing over Rs 600 million (approximately $2 million). The legal claims arising from his trip to the UK suggest that he utilized state funds for a private event, which both the CID and Wickremesinghe dispute. This investigation has been underway since June, and if convicted, Wickremesinghe could face serious legal repercussions.
Making history as the first former president in Sri Lanka to be arrested, Wickremesinghe has been a prominent figure in the political landscape since being elected as an MP in 1977. A trained lawyer from a well-connected family, he previously led the United National Party (UNP) and sought the presidency on multiple occasions. His long political career saw its peak in 2022 when he finally assumed the presidency, though he later lost the 2024 elections.
