Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka to be arrested and remanded on Friday (22), is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (26).
Former President Wickremesinghe, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at around 1:10 p.m. on Friday for allegedly misusing state funds was produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura at around 3:00 p.m.
The case, filed under the under provisions of the Penal Code and the Public Property Act, was adjourned after initial submissions, and subsequently the commencement of court proceedings delayed due to a blackout at the Fort Magistrate Court premises.
After the resumption, considering the submissions made by the Attorney General’s Department and the defence attorneys, Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered that the former President be remanded until August 26, a first in the history of Sri Lanka.
Following a commotion outside the court premises, former President Wickremesinghe was escorted to the Welikada Prison by officers.
Based on medical assessment, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was admitted to the Prison Hospital.
He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Colombo National Hospital after his health condition deteriorated, according to hospital sources.
The transfer was carried out on the recommendation of Prison Hospital doctors following medical examinations.
Yesterday it was reported that the health condition of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe improved to a somewhat satisfactory level.
According to Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe, the Acting Director of the Colombo National Hospital, although the former President is currently in a stable and satisfactory condition, he remains under close observation by specialist doctors in the Intensive Care Unit, and his condition could still change.
The case could also be taken up at the Fort Magistrate’s Court through Skype if former President Wickremesinghe is unable to appear in person.
Former President Wickremesinghe was taken into custody for allegedly “misusing government funds” after being questioned about a September 2023 visit to the United Kingdom to attend a ceremony for his wife at a British university while he was head of state.
Ranil Wickremesinghe had stopped in London in 2023 on his way back from Havana, where he attended a G77 summit.
He and his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, attended a University of Wolverhampton ceremony.
Wickremesinghe had maintained that his wife met her own travel expenses and that no state funds were used.
However, the CID alleged that Wickremesinghe used state funds for his travel on a private visit and that the state also paid his bodyguards.
