In a significant political development, former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on allegations of misusing government funds. The arrest was made after Wickremesinghe, 76, reported to the CID headquarters in Colombo to provide a statement in connection with an investigation into a private overseas trip he took while in office. He is scheduled to be presented before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court.
The case centers on a London trip Wickremesinghe took in September 2023. At the time, he was on his way back from the G77 summit in Havana, Cuba, and made a stopover in the UK. During this stopover, he and his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where she was being honored.
Police allege that the London portion of the trip was a personal visit and that Wickremesinghe improperly used state resources to fund it. The CID claims that public funds were used for travel and related costs, including expenses for a 10-person entourage and his security detail. Reports from local media suggest the cost to the government was approximately Rs 16.9 million.
Wickremesinghe has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that his wife’s travel expenses were covered by her and that no public money was used for personal purposes. However, the CID’s investigation, which included questioning his former presidential secretary and private secretary, has reportedly gathered new evidence and testimonies.
Wickremesinghe’s tenure as president, from July 2022 to September 2024, was marked by his efforts to stabilize the country’s economy following its worst-ever financial crisis. He is credited with securing a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund and implementing tough austerity measures. Despite these efforts, his presidency was not without controversy, with some critics accusing him of protecting the political establishment and cracking down on dissent.
A long-time political figure and leader of the United National Party (UNP), Wickremesinghe has served as prime minister six times. His current arrest makes him the most senior opposition leader to be detained as part of the new leftist government’s anti-corruption crackdown. The court proceedings will determine whether he is released, remanded, or formally charged under Sri Lankan law.