Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested and appeared in court over allegations of misusing state funds while in office.
Wickremesinghe, 76, who led the country during a devastating economic crisis from 2019 to 2024, was investigated over a visit he made to London to attend his wife’s graduation.
Police confirmed his arrest, stating that Wickremesinghe would be held in custody until August 26, when a fresh hearing would be held into the allegations.
The allegations against Wickremesinghe relate to a trip he took to London in 2023, where he stopped on his way back to Sri Lanka from Havana, where he attended a G77 summit.
Wickremesinghe’s office had previously denied that he abused his position to visit London, claiming that his wife’s travel expenses were met by her and no state funds were used.
However, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) alleged that Wickremesinghe used government money for his travel on a private visit and his bodyguards were also paid by the state.
A Wickremesinghe ally from his United National Party (UNP) proclaimed his innocence and suggested the case was politically motivated. “Ranil Wickremesinghe has never misused public funds or state funds,” UNP member Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe told reporters outside the court complex in Colombo.
Warnasinghe emphasized Wickremesinghe’s role in stabilizing the economy after Sri Lanka’s worst-ever financial meltdown in 2022, saying, “he was the person who stepped up and accepted the challenge to save this country when the economy collapsed. That is the person who is being treated like this today by this government.”
Wickremesinghe’s arrest is part of a broader anticorruption crackdown led by Sri Lanka’s new President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to power in September on a promise to fight corruption.
The CID has been investigating several high-profile cases, including Wickremesinghe’s alleged misuse of public funds.
Wickremesinghe’s case highlights the challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s leaders in addressing corruption and economic mismanagement.
During his tenure, Wickremesinghe secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implemented tough austerity measures to raise state revenues. He doubled taxes and removed energy subsidies, which helped stabilize the economy.
However, his economic policies have been subject to criticism, and his arrest has sparked debate about the role of politics in Sri Lanka’s economic management.
As the case against Wickremesinghe unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact Sri Lanka’s politics and economy. The country’s anticorruption efforts are being closely watched, and the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the nation’s future.