Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrested over probe into UK trip

 

Colombo — Aug. 22, 2025: Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday after being summoned to provide a statement in an inquiry into alleged misuse of public funds for part of an overseas tour, officials and local media reported.

Wickremesinghe arrived at CID headquarters in Colombo earlier in the day to give a statement connected to a visit to London that investigators say included a private engagement but was financed with state resources. The London stop came after an official trip to New York, according to police and media accounts. 

The investigation focuses on whether government money—estimated at about Rs. 16.9 million—covered costs for the UK leg of the journey, during which Wickremesinghe attended a university graduation ceremony in London. Media reports state the London event related to his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe. 

As part of the same probe, statements were previously recorded from Saman Ekanayake, the former Secretary to the President, and Sandra Perera, Wickremesinghe’s former private secretary, authorities said. 

Wickremesinghe served as Sri Lanka’s president from 2022 to 2024. Further legal proceedings following Friday’s arrest were not immediately disclosed. This is a developing story.