Sri Lanka's former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been taken into custody by law enforcement authorities in connection with alleged financial improprieties related to his travel expenses during his presidency. The police confirmed that Wickremesinghe is facing three separate charges regarding his international trips while serving as the head of state.
Wickremesinghe appeared in magistrates' court in Colombo shortly after providing a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) earlier in the day. Despite requesting bail on medical grounds, the court has denied his application, and he remains in custody.
His presidency from 2022 to 2024 followed one of Sri Lanka's most significant economic crises, which resulted in widespread protests and the resignation of his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe, known for his long-standing political career, previously held the role of prime minister six times since the 1990s and was credited with stabilizing the nation's economy.
Reports indicate that the 76-year-old politician undertook 23 foreign trips during his presidency, amassing costs exceeding Rs 600 million (approximately $2 million). His arrest is notably linked to a stopover in the UK in 2023, following a G77 summit in Cuba, where he attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton with his wife. The CID alleges he misused state funds for this personal engagement, which he has firmly denied.
Wickremesinghe is the first former president to face arrest in Sri Lanka's history, with his political relevance established since he was elected as a member of parliament in 1977. A trained lawyer and part of a prominent political family, he has long been an influential figure in the United National Party (UNP), reforming its reputation and working to remove corrupt elements within the party since taking leadership in 1994.
Despite suffering significant losses in the 2020 elections, resulting in a drastic reduction of his party's representation in parliament, Wickremesinghe achieved his long-desired presidency in 2022 after the tumultuous exit of Rajapaksa. Following his presidency, he lost the 2024 election to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a candidate from the leftist party, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Sri Lanka.
