Updated: Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on August 22 and subsequently remanded until August 26 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. He was taken into custody when he arrived at the CID to provide a statement regarding an ongoing investigation and was later escorted to court under tight security before being formally produced before the Magistrate.
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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested today by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of state funds.
Wickremesinghe voluntarily arrived at the CID headquarters at around 9 a.m. to record a statement. Following questioning, he was formally taken into custody and is expected to be produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court shortly.
The investigation relates to Wickremesinghe’s visit to London in September 2023 to attend a graduation ceremony for his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton, during his tenure as President. The CID alleges that state funds were used to facilitate the trip, including expenses for security personnel.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency in July 2022 following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid months of protests, has maintained that all costs for his wife’s attendance were personally borne and that no government funds were utilised. Nevertheless, CID officials contend that the trip constituted a private visit funded, at least in part, by the state.
Prior to today’s arrest, the CID had presented evidence in the case before the Fort Magistrate’s Court on 24 June 2025. Statements were also recorded from Sandra Perera, Wickremesinghe’s former private secretary, and Saman Ekanayake, his former Presidential Secretary, as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The former President had travelled to London on his way back from Havana, where he attended the G77 Summit. During the London stopover, he and his wife participated in the university ceremony. It is this stopover that forms the focus of the investigation into alleged misuse of public funds.
Wickremesinghe lost his re-election bid in September 2024, ending his brief tenure as head of state. Today’s arrest marks the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that a former president has been taken into custody, signalling a significant moment in the country’s approach to accountability for high-ranking officials.
The case is expected to draw substantial public and media attention as proceedings continue at the Fort Magistrate’s Court.
