The arrest concerns foreign trips he took, including a controversial stop in the UK.
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested Over Allegations of Fund Misuse
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested Over Allegations of Fund Misuse
Ranil Wickremesinghe faces charges related to the alleged misuse of state funds during his presidency.
In a significant turn of events, Sri Lanka's former president Ranil Wickremesinghe has been apprehended on allegations of misusing state funds during his tenure from 2022 to 2024. Police shared that this arrest is specifically linked to his overseas trips, which have come under scrutiny for possible misuse of resources.
Wickremesinghe, who filled the presidential role amid Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis, is slated to appear in a magistrates court in Colombo on Friday. Earlier today, he provided a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) regarding the allegations.
The 76-year-old leader, who played a crucial role in steering Sri Lanka towards economic recovery, has a long political history, including six terms as prime minister since the 1990s. Reports from BBC Sinhala indicate that during his presidency, he undertook 23 foreign trips, resulting in expenditures exceeding Rs 600 million (approximately $2 million or £1.4 million).
The current charges appear to be centered around a specific detour he made in the UK while returning from the G77 summit in Cuba in 2023. While in the UK, he and his wife attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton. The CID alleges this visit was for personal purposes, funded by the state, a claim Wickremesinghe has firmly refuted.
This situation continues to evolve, and updates will be available as the case develops.
Wickremesinghe, who filled the presidential role amid Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis, is slated to appear in a magistrates court in Colombo on Friday. Earlier today, he provided a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) regarding the allegations.
The 76-year-old leader, who played a crucial role in steering Sri Lanka towards economic recovery, has a long political history, including six terms as prime minister since the 1990s. Reports from BBC Sinhala indicate that during his presidency, he undertook 23 foreign trips, resulting in expenditures exceeding Rs 600 million (approximately $2 million or £1.4 million).
The current charges appear to be centered around a specific detour he made in the UK while returning from the G77 summit in Cuba in 2023. While in the UK, he and his wife attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton. The CID alleges this visit was for personal purposes, funded by the state, a claim Wickremesinghe has firmly refuted.
This situation continues to evolve, and updates will be available as the case develops.
