Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested Over Fund Misuse Allegations

The former president of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was arrested for alleged misuse of state funds during his time in office, specifically related to foreign trips. Despite his role in economic recovery, he now faces legal challenges as the first ex-president to face such scrutiny.

Sri Lanka's former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, known for his leadership during a tumultuous economic period, has been arrested by local police over allegations of misusing state funds for personal gain. The police confirmed that Wickremesinghe is facing three separate charges tied to international trips conducted while he held office, specifically concerning expenses from a 2023 layover in the UK while returning from a G77 summit in Cuba.

Wickremesinghe, who served as president from 2022 until 2024, appeared in court in Colombo shortly after providing a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Although he requested bail on health grounds, the court decided to remand him into custody. Historically, Wickremesinghe has made headlines for his role in stabilizing Sri Lanka's economy after a severe crisis, which led to widespread protests and the ousting of his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Reports indicate that Wickremesinghe and his wife attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton during the UK visit, which the CID contends was deemed a private excursion that utilized government funds; a claim Wickremesinghe has firmly denied. This inquiry into his spending reportedly began in June, leading to this unprecedented arrest of a former president in Sri Lanka.

With a political career that began in 1977, the 76-year-old has been a key figure in the United National Party (UNP), reforming its image throughout the years. After a long quest for the presidency, he finally assumed the title in 2022, following a political upheaval. His tenure, however, faced challenges, having lost the subsequent 2024 election to Anura Kumara Dissanayake from a left-leaning party.