Sri Lanka’s former president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday on allegations of misusing government funds, according to a senior police detective.
Wickremesinghe was taken into custody after questioning over a September 2023 trip to London, where he attended a University of Wolverhampton ceremony for his wife while serving as head of state. Police allege he used state money for travel on what they describe as a private visit, with expenses for his security detail also covered by the government.
He has denied the charges, insisting his wife paid her own expenses and that no state funds were used.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency in July 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, is credited with stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy following its 2022 financial crisis. He lost his re-election bid in September.
Wickremesinghe was taken into custody after questioning over a September 2023 trip to London, where he attended a University of Wolverhampton ceremony for his wife while serving as head of state. Police allege he used state money for travel on what they describe as a private visit, with expenses for his security detail also covered by the government.
He has denied the charges, insisting his wife paid her own expenses and that no state funds were used.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency in July 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, is credited with stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy following its 2022 financial crisis. He lost his re-election bid in September.
