Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told court that former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, identified as a prime suspect in the misuse of Rs. 1.66 billion during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK trip, may also face arrest and a possible foreign travel ban.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris revealed in court yesterday that former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has been identified as a prime suspect in the alleged misuse of Rs. 1.66 billion in government funds for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private trip to Britain.
Peiris stated that as the chief accounting officer responsible for approving the expenditure, Ekanayake holds direct accountability. He further noted that while he intends to request a foreign travel ban against Ekanayake, that motion was not submitted to court at this stage.
According to Peiris, ten individuals, including Wickremesinghe’s wife, private secretary Sandra Perera, a doctor, and several police officers, took part in the controversial trip. He stressed that the former President had not attended at the official invitation of the British government, and that the approval of funds came from Saman Ekanayake.
The court was also told that Ekanayake himself had issued a circular during his tenure instructing state institutions to limit expenditure to essential costs due to the severe economic crisis. Yet, despite these restrictions, government funds were used to cover the London trip, which Peiris argued was a clear misuse of state resources at a time when even securing dollars for the country was extremely difficult.
Peiris further argued against granting bail to the former President, pointing out that investigations are ongoing and that additional interrogations and arrests are expected, including that of former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
The revelation adds another layer to the unfolding case, with growing speculation about whether Ekanayake will also be arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of public property.
