Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested today by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo.
The arrest follows allegations that Wickremesinghe misused public funds to finance a personal visit to the United Kingdom in September 2023, during his tenure as President.
The trip, which reportedly included attendance at the PhD graduation ceremony of his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton, was allegedly disguised as part of an official overseas tour. Police documents submitted to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court reveal that the UK leg of the journey lacked any formal engagements and cost the state approximately Rs. 16.9 million.
A ten-member delegation accompanied Wickremesinghe, further inflating the expenses. CID officials have already questioned key aides, including former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake and private secretary Sandra Perera, with more staff expected to be summoned.
Wickremesinghe’s media team has denied the allegations, calling them “false and misleading,” and stated that no visit to the university occurred on the dates in question. Despite the denial, legal experts view the arrest as a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts, potentially opening the door to further high-profile investigations.
Wickremesinghe, a veteran politician and leader of the United National Party (UNP), served as President from 2022 to 2024 after a long career marked by both leadership and controversy. His arrest marks one of the most significant detentions of a senior political figure in recent Sri Lankan history.
