by Our Correspondent in Colombo
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will not be able to appear before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today due to health concerns, the Board of Specialist Doctors at Colombo National Hospital has confirmed. Wickremesinghe, currently on remand, is receiving treatment in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and has been advised to rest for at least three days.
Despite his inability to attend in person, the Prisons Department has planned to connect him to the court proceedings remotely if required. The case, filed by the Financial Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), relates to the alleged misuse of over Rs. 16.6 million in state funds during a two-day private visit to London, England, involving Wickremesinghe, his wife Maithri Wickremesinghe, former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, and a group of ten others.
Today, the Fort Magistrate’s Court is scheduled to receive a progress report from CID officers, including Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara, OIC Chief Inspector S.K. Senaratne, and Chief Inspector Nalinda Herath. A summary of statements recorded by CID officers before Wickremesinghe’s arrest on August 22 will also be submitted.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris will present the facts on behalf of the Attorney General, while a legal team of around 300 lawyers is expected to represent Wickremesinghe. Opposition Members of Parliament and party leaders have been informed to attend, with electoral organizers from the Western Province also invited.
In anticipation of possible demonstrations, the Sri Lanka Police have implemented a comprehensive security plan. Police Media Spokesperson Superintendent of Police Udaya Kumara Wutler stated that all OICs have been instructed to maintain public order. Heavy security, including the Special Task Force and riot control units, has been deployed at the Fort Magistrate’s Court, as well as at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatta, Battaramulla. Certain roads in Colombo have been closed, and roadblocks have been established to manage opposition supporters gathering in the city.
This marks the continuation of proceedings in the high-profile case against former President Wickremesinghe, who was last produced before the court on August 23 and remanded until today.
