Sri Lanka’s political stage heats up as former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake is grilled by the CID over ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK visit, alleged misuse of public funds, and suspicions of a fake university invitation.
Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning to provide a statement regarding allegations tied to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to the United Kingdom. The case involves claims that state funds were misused and that the invitation letter submitted for the visit may have been fraudulent.
According to reports, Ekanayake is expected to present additional evidence concerning the allegations, particularly surrounding an invitation letter allegedly sent by the University of Wolverhampton. The letter is said to have been addressed not only to Wickremesinghe but also to the former First Lady and the former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
In response to an inquiry by Wickremesinghe’s legal team, the University of Wolverhampton confirmed the authenticity of the invitation letter submitted to the CID. These confirmation documents are also set to be handed over to investigators today.
The inquiry underscores the growing scrutiny around Wickremesinghe’s overseas engagements, with questions raised about whether taxpayer money was improperly used. The CID’s findings will be pivotal in determining whether the accusations of forgery and misuse of public funds hold weight or if the matter will be laid to rest with the university’s confirmation.
Sri Lanka continues to grapple with mounting political scandals, and the outcome of this investigation could have lasting implications on Wickremesinghe’s already controversial legacy.
