Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested For Misusing Govt Funds

Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President of Sri Lanka, has been detained by the CID over allegations of misusing government funds for a personal trip to England. He is accused of using state resources for his wife's university convocation in September 2023.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former President of Sri Lanka, has been reportedly arrested over allegations of misusing government funds on Friday. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) apprehended him on Friday for allegedly using state resources for a personal overseas trip during his presidency.

Wickremesinghe is accused of using public money to travel to England for his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe's convocation at a British university in September 2023.

In a statement, the police stated, "We are producing him before the Colombo Fort magistrate," and they intend to charge him with using state resources for personal purposes. Prior to this arrest, authorities had already questioned his staff regarding the travel expenses related to this trip.

Case Against Wickremesinghe

In 2023, Wickremesinghe made a stop in London on his return from Havana after attending a G77 summit. During this visit, he and his wife participated in a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton. He has consistently claimed that his wife's travel costs were covered by her own funds and that no public money was used for their trip.

However, the CID alleges that Wickremesinghe used government funds for his travel on what they consider a private visit. Additionally, it is claimed that state funds were used to pay for his bodyguards during this trip.

Who Is Ranil Wickremesinghe?

Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency in July 2022 following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation amid widespread protests over alleged corruption and mismanagement. He served as president until September 2023 when he lost his re-election bid. During his tenure, he is credited with stabilising Sri Lanka's economy after its worst financial crisis in 2022.

The allegations against Wickremesinghe have sparked significant attention due to his previous role in addressing the country's economic challenges. His arrest marks another chapter in Sri Lanka's ongoing political and economic saga.