Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made headlines again, but not for the reasons he might have hoped. He was arrested earlier today due to allegations surrounding the misuse of government funds for personal overseas trips. Police have indicated that he faces three separate charges tied to travel expenses incurred during his presidency.
Wickremesinghe arrived at magistrates' court in Colombo after briefing the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Despite requesting bail on health grounds, he has been remanded in custody. Serving from 2022 until recently, Wickremesinghe stepped up as leader following a major economic crisis that forced previous President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.
His travels have come under scrutiny, with reports citing that he took 23 international trips while in office, costing over 600 million rupees (approximately $2 million). Notably, his recent arrest concerns a 2023 visit to the UK, after he attended a G77 summit in Cuba, where he and his wife participated in a university event. The CID claims that this particular stopover was a personal endeavor funded by taxpayers, which Wickremesinghe denies.
This marks a historic moment as Wickremesinghe is the first former Sri Lankan president to face arrest. Throughout his lengthy political career, dating back to his election as an MP in 1977, he has consistently been a game-changer, particularly for his party, the United National Party (UNP), which he attempted to purify by expelling corrupt members. Gratitude for his efforts returned when he assumed presidency in 2022, but he later lost the 2024 elections. As this story unfolds, it’s clear that Wickremesinghe’s saga is far from over!
Wickremesinghe arrived at magistrates' court in Colombo after briefing the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Despite requesting bail on health grounds, he has been remanded in custody. Serving from 2022 until recently, Wickremesinghe stepped up as leader following a major economic crisis that forced previous President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.
His travels have come under scrutiny, with reports citing that he took 23 international trips while in office, costing over 600 million rupees (approximately $2 million). Notably, his recent arrest concerns a 2023 visit to the UK, after he attended a G77 summit in Cuba, where he and his wife participated in a university event. The CID claims that this particular stopover was a personal endeavor funded by taxpayers, which Wickremesinghe denies.
This marks a historic moment as Wickremesinghe is the first former Sri Lankan president to face arrest. Throughout his lengthy political career, dating back to his election as an MP in 1977, he has consistently been a game-changer, particularly for his party, the United National Party (UNP), which he attempted to purify by expelling corrupt members. Gratitude for his efforts returned when he assumed presidency in 2022, but he later lost the 2024 elections. As this story unfolds, it’s clear that Wickremesinghe’s saga is far from over!
