Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has refuted allegations that he and Professor Maithri Wickremesinghe visited London in 2023 using government funds. In a statement issued by his media unit, Wickremesinghe clarified that his trips to London were for official purposes and not personal expenses covered by the state.
According to the statement, Wickremesinghe traveled to London three times in 2023. His first visit was on May 9 to attend the coronation of King Charles III. The second was in connection with the 40th anniversary session of the International Democratic Union (IDU), following his participation in the Paris Conference. His third visit occurred after attending the G-77 Summit in Havana and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The statement further noted that during this third visit, he also attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where Professor Maithri Wickremesinghe was awarded the title of Professor. Wickremesinghe was invited to this event while he was in New York and took part as a guest.
During his visits, Wickremesinghe met with several heads of state, while Maithri Wickremesinghe, in her capacity as First Lady at the time, attended various international meetings and workshops. His return to Sri Lanka was delayed due to scheduled meetings in London, but the visit remained part of his official engagements.
Dismissing claims that excessive public funds were used for the London visit, the statement accused the current government of lacking an understanding of diplomatic affairs. It reiterated that Wickremesinghe had not undertaken any private visits to London at the expense of the government in 2023, labeling all accusations as false.
