Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was remanded by the Colombo Magistrate Court yesterday until August 26 over allegations of misusing public funds during his tenure.
Wickremesinghe was detained yesterday in connection with claims that he used state funds for a personal trip to London in September 2023 to attend the University of Wolverhampton convocation of his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, while serving as Executive President.
After a bail application was filed on his behalf, the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court adjourned for half an hour to consider the request. During the recess, a power failure forced media personnel and others to wait outside the court premises. The bail application was heard before Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the CID, told the court that evidence would be presented under the Public Property Act and requested that Wickremesinghe remain in custody as the investigation was not complete. In response, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne argued for
his release on bail, submitting evidence on behalf of the former President.
Wickremesinghe was escorted to the court under heavy CID security. He had arrived at CID headquarters around 9 am yesterday to provide a statement regarding the ongoing investigation and was taken into custody after recording it.
The inquiry relates to his London visit on the way back from Havana, where he attended the G77 summit, and his attendance at the University of Wolverhampton ceremony with his wife. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his wife covered her own expenses and no state funds were used. However, the CID alleges that government money was spent on his travel and that state-paid bodyguards accompanied him.
Previously, the CID had presented evidence in court on 24 June, and statements were recorded from Sandra Perera, the former President’s private secretary, and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
by A.J.A. Abeynayake 