Former Sri Lankan President Arrested on Funds Misuse Charges

Colombo, Sri Lanka - In a historic first for Sri Lanka, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday, August 22, 2025, on allegations of misusing state funds. The arrest marks a major development in the new government's anti-corruption drive and is the first time a former Sri Lankan head of state has been taken into custody.

The investigation centres on a trip Wickremesinghe made to London in September 2023. While he was serving as President, he attended a graduation ceremony for his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton. Though the former President has denied the charges and insists that his wife bore her own costs, investigators allege that government money was improperly used to cover his travel and security expenses.

The CID has been gathering evidence for the case for some time, having previously recorded statements from his former presidential secretary, Saman Ekanayake, and his former private secretary, Sandra Perera. Wickremesinghe, aged 76, was taken into custody after providing a statement that lasted more than four hours. He was then produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court in Colombo for legal proceedings.

Wickremesinghe, who served as President from July 2022 to September 2024, assumed the role after his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, resigned amid the country's severe economic crisis. He is widely credited with helping Sri Lanka secure a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during his tenure. However, his recent arrest signals a strong commitment by the new government to hold powerful political figures accountable, regardless of their past achievements.