Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court a short while ago under tight security.
Wickremesinghe was arrested earlier today (22) after arriving at the CID to record a statement regarding an ongoing investigation. The probe concerns his September 2023 visit to London, where he attended a graduation ceremony of his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, while serving as President. Investigators allege the trip was financed using state funds.
The CID had previously presented evidence related to the case before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on June 24. Statements were later recorded from Sandra Perera, the former President’s private secretary, and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID headquarters around 9 a.m. today and was taken into custody following the recording of his statement. He was arrested on charges of “misusing government funds.”
The CID alleges that government money was used for Wickremesinghe’s travel on what they consider a private visit, and that state funds also covered expenses for his security detail.
Wickremesinghe, however, has maintained that his wife covered her own travel costs and that no state resources were misused.
The visit in question occurred when Wickremesinghe returned from Havana, where he attended the G77 summit, stopping in London to attend a University of Wolverhampton ceremony with his wife.
