Arrest of Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Marks a Historic Political Moment in Sri Lanka

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's former president, has been arrested over alleged financial misconduct related to foreign trips during his presidency. Facing three charges and being remanded in custody, his political legacy, marked by significant moments, now faces scrutiny.

 

Sri Lanka's former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been detained by police in connection with allegations of misusing state funds during his time in office. The charges stem from three specific trips abroad, which have raised concerns about his handling of public finances. Having appeared at magistrates' court in Colombo on Friday, he submitted a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) earlier that day. Despite his request for bail due to health issues, Wickremesinghe has been remanded in custody.

Wickremesinghe served as president from 2022 to 2024, assuming the role amidst a devastating economic crisis that resulted in widespread public protests and the flight of his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Despite the turmoil, Wickremesinghe was credited for guiding Sri Lanka towards economic recovery. A prominent political figure since his election as a Member of Parliament in 1977, he has held the position of prime minister on six different occasions from the 1990s.

Reports indicate that during his presidency, Wickremesinghe undertook 23 foreign trips at the expense of over Rs 600 million ($2 million; £1.4 million). The recent arrest is linked to a specific visit to the UK in 2023, during which he and his wife attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton following a G77 summit in Cuba. The CID alleges this was a private trip funded by the state, a claim Wickremesinghe has vehemently denied.

The investigation into his trips was referred to court in June, and as the first former president to face arrest in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe's political legacy is now under intense scrutiny. His leadership in the United National Party (UNP) was marked by efforts to reform the party and distance it from allegations of corruption. Despite his longstanding political career and multiple attempts to secure the presidency, he only attained the position in 2022, after representing a party that faced near extinction in the 2020 elections. Following defeat in the 2024 elections to leftist opposition leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Wickremesinghe's current legal battle adds a significant chapter to his complex political narrative.