Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara yesterday (29) put off hearing of the case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to 28 January 2026.
The case has been filed under the Public Property Act.
The Magistrate directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to expedite the investigation and to produce before court any other suspects connected to this case.
The Magistrate further instructed the CID to conduct an inquiry into whether the incidents that took place near the court premises, on a previous date, amounted to contempt of court, to identify the individuals responsible, and to report to the court at the next hearing on the actions taken against them.
The former President has been accused of misusing public funds to the tune of Rs 166 mn for travel in the UK to attend a ceremony organised to honour his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe.
Former President Wickremesinghe was arrested on 22 August, 2025, after being questioned by the CID. He was subsequently produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court and remanded until 26 August.
After reviewing the medical reports submitted on behalf of the former President, Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura, on 26 August, ordered his release on three sureties of Rs. 5 million each and scheduled the case to be recalled yesterday.