Former Sri Lankan President Arrested: Accused of Misusing State Funds for Wife’s Trip

Sri Lanka is reporting the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe by the CID on Friday. The charges involve the alleged misuse of government funds for personal travel. The case relates to his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, and her graduation ceremony in London. The 76-year-old Wickremesinghe was at the CID office Friday morning for questioning. He was later detained and will be brought before the Colombo Fort Magistrate. The CID claims that in September 2023, Wickremesinghe misused state resources during a trip to London, including using public money for his security detail. In September 2023, he had been in Havana, Cuba, for the G77 summit and on his return, stopped in London to attend his wife’s graduation. The CID states this trip was personal but funded by the government. Wickremesinghe denies the allegations. He states that his wife covered her travel and accommodation costs and that no government funds were used improperly. He attributes this as a political maneuver and insists the case lacks factual accuracy. Police previously questioned Wickremesinghe’s staff regarding travel expenditures. Law enforcement agencies stated the arrest followed the collection of sufficient evidence. Wickremesinghe became President in July 2022, after Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned due to corruption protests. He is acknowledged for his efforts to stabilize the economy. He was defeated in a close election by the leftist A.K. Dissanayake in September 2024.