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Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of misusing state funds for a private trip to London, sparking one of the most high-profile political scandals in recent years.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was taken into custody this morning (22) after arriving at the Criminal Investigation Department to give a statement regarding an ongoing probe. The investigation focuses on his alleged use of government funds to travel to London during his presidency, where he attended a graduation ceremony for his wife, Professor Maithri Wickremesinghe.
The CID had earlier presented evidence related to this matter before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on June 24. Following that, statements were recorded from Sandra Perera, Wickremesinghe’s former private secretary, and Saman Ekanayake, his former Presidential Secretary, both of whom were connected to the trip.
According to reports, Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID headquarters at approximately 9 am today to provide further statements. Soon after, he was officially arrested, marking a dramatic turn in the case.
The probe has raised serious questions about accountability, transparency, and the use of public funds by senior political leaders in Sri Lanka. With Wickremesinghe’s arrest, political observers suggest that the investigation could trigger broader scrutiny of financial irregularities during his administration.
The case is expected to dominate Sri Lanka’s political discourse in the coming weeks, with both supporters and critics closely watching how the legal process unfolds.
