Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been remanded in custody until August 26 following an order issued today by the Colombo Fort Magistrate. The decision comes after his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations that he misused state funds to cover a personal trip to London during his presidency.
The case stems from a 2023 foreign tour, during which Wickremesinghe visited the United States and Cuba but diverted to London on September 22–23 to attend his wife’s graduation. Investigators allege that approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds were spent on this stopover, which the CID contends was personal in nature rather than part of his official engagements. Reports also suggest that ten individuals accompanied him, further raising questions about the use of state resources.
In recent months, the CID recorded statements from several key officials who worked under Wickremesinghe, including former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake and private secretary Sandra Perera. A detailed B-report outlining the allegations was earlier submitted to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, forming the basis of the ongoing inquiry.
After appearing before the CID yesterday, Wickremesinghe was formally arrested and produced in court today. The magistrate ruled that he be held in remand custody until August 26 while the Attorney General’s Department reviews the case and considers possible charges.
The arrest of Wickremesinghe, a veteran politician with long-standing influence in South Asian diplomacy, is likely to have ripple effects beyond Colombo. For the Maldives, where Sri Lanka remains a vital economic and political partner, his detention adds a new layer of uncertainty to regional cooperation and highlights how instability in Colombo can directly impact Malé.
