Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been remanded until August 26 after a dramatic CID arrest in Colombo over allegations of misusing government funds during a controversial London visit linked to his wife’s graduation ceremony.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, has been remanded until August 26 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. The ruling marks a historic moment as Sri Lanka’s first former head of state faces remand over allegations of financial misconduct.
He was escorted to the court premises by CID officers under heavy security and produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in front of a large gathering of media and supporters.
The arrest followed Wickremesinghe’s appearance at the CID earlier today, where he had been summoned to provide a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation. He arrived at the CID headquarters at around 9 a.m. and was taken into custody shortly after his statement was recorded.
The investigation relates to allegations that Ranil Wickremesinghe misused government funds during a September 2023 visit to London, where he attended a graduation ceremony of his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton. The trip took place following his attendance at the G77 summit in Havana.
According to the CID, Wickremesinghe allegedly used state funds for what they classify as a private trip. Investigators claim that government money covered his travel and that additional state funds were used to cover the costs of his security detail. Earlier, on June 24, the CID presented evidence related to this case before the Fort Magistrate’s Court. Statements were also recorded from Sandra Perera, Wickremesinghe’s former private secretary, and from Saman Ekanayake, his former Presidential Secretary.
Wickremesinghe, however, has consistently denied the allegations. He maintains that his wife personally covered her travel expenses and that no government money was misused. Supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated, while prosecutors insist that the case involves the clear misuse of public property.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s decision to remand Wickremesinghe until August 26 underscores the seriousness of the charges and the growing intensity of the political and legal battle surrounding the former President. The outcome of the investigation is expected to have significant implications for Sri Lanka’s governance, accountability, and political future.
