In brief
Wickremesinghe, who held office amid Sri Lanka's economic crisis, now faces legal challenges regarding his expenditures during foreign travel, including a controversial trip to the UK last year.
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been apprehended by police in connection with alleged financial misconduct involving state funds. The charges stem from overseas trips he undertook while in office, including a notable stopover in the United Kingdom in 2023 after attending the G77 summit in Cuba. Wickremesinghe, who presided over the country from 2022 to 2024 following unprecedented economic turmoil that led to the ousting of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is scheduled to appear in a magistrate's court in Colombo on Friday. During his presidency, the 76-year-old political figure made 23 international trips, reportedly incurring costs exceeding Rs 600 million (around $2 million or £1.4 million). Reports from BBC Sinhala indicate that the charges specifically concern an alleged private visit to a University of Wolverhampton ceremony, which Wickremesinghe claims was state-funded. As the investigation unfolds, Wickremesinghe's claims of innocence stand in direct contrast to the assertions of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Further updates are anticipated as this story continues to develop.
