COlombo, August 22 2025 — Making history Friday, former Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested over allegations that he misused public funds to facilitate his own trip abroad during his term as president — a bold step by the government against corruption.
Criminal Investigation Department of Sri Lanka Police arrested Wickremesinghe when he arrived at their Colombo office to record a statement regarding an overseas trip intended for his wife’s graduation, at an estimated cost of approximately 16.9 Million Sri Lankan rupees (around USD 50K). Authorities allege he used state funds illegally by diverting them after an official diplomatic tour that included stops in Cuba and the US (Reuters and Tamil Guardian, respectively).
At 76 years old, Wickremesinghe is the first former Sri Lankan head of state ever arrested by the current government, showing its resolve to hold top officials accountable and ensure accountability within government. Her arrest forms part of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s anti-corruption crackdown which began upon their election in 2024 via anti-corruption platforms. [Reuters; AP News],
Court Appearance & Custody
Wickremesinghe was brought before Colombo Fort Magistrate Court and remanded into custody until August 26, pending further hearings, without making an official statement at either his hearing office or himself. No official statement was released by either at his hearing, while there were no remarks made either way by Wickremesinghe himself at either.
Political Repercussions and Defense.
Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe, a member of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP), denounced the charges as politically motivated and defended Wickremesinghe’s integrity by asserting: “He accepted the challenge to save this nation when the economy collapsed,” according to Warnasinghe (AFP, Al Jazeera and Reuters News).
Wickremesinghe was widely credited with stabilizing Sri Lanka’s fragile economy during his presidency from 2022-2024, overseeing an IMF bailout, economic reforms, and an improved recovery from previous hyperinflation and shortages; yet his tenure was also marred by unpopular austerity measures like curtailed subsidies and higher taxes (Wikipedia/AP/Reuters +5).
Anti-Corruption Campaign Explores Strategies for Wider Success
The arrest comes after months of increased legal scrutiny, as the Criminal Investigation Division has been probing his London trip since July, examining if state funds unlawfully covered personal expenses. A number of his former aides including presidential secretary and private secretary have already provided statements to investigators, such as Tamil Guardian’s report that several former presidential secretaries and private secretaries gave statements to CID investigators.
President Dissanayake’s initiative has already seen investigations targeting several former officials accused of corruption. This campaign represents an effort to shift Sri Lanka’s political culture toward accountability and transparency (AP News).