Colombo: Former President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was taken into custody on Friday due to allegations regarding the misuse of state funds, as reported by Newswire Lanka.
According to officials familiar with the situation, Newswire indicated that the former president was arrested after he presented himself to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo.
Newswire further stated that his arrest is associated with claims of utilizing state funds to pay for expenses related to a private trip to London, where he attended a university graduation ceremony.
Additionally, it was reported that investigators assert the trip, which was part of a broader overseas journey, was not an official duty but was funded by government resources.
As reported by Newswire, in August, former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake and former private secretary Sandra Perera were interrogated regarding their involvement in organizing the visit.
Ranil Wickremesinghe served as Sri Lanka's president from 2022 to 2024.
Reports indicate that he is the highest-ranking political figure to be arrested in recent years. His detention is anticipated to heighten scrutiny concerning the use of public funds by senior officials.
According to Newswire, court proceedings and formal charges are likely to ensue.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has held the position of prime minister six times, became Sri Lanka's interim president in July 2022 after the ousting of Gottabaya Rajapaksa. He lost the presidential election to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People's Power, in September 2024.
