Sri Lanka’s Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested in State Funds Probe

Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday in Colombo, according to reports from local broadcaster Ada Derana. The 76 year old was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department after arriving to provide a statement in connection with an investigation into alleged misuse of state funds. The case relates to a trip to London where Wickremesinghe reportedly attended his wife’s graduation ceremony. Police have not yet officially confirmed the arrest and Wickremesinghe’s office has not issued any statement. He was expected to appear before court later in the day, media outlets reported.

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Wickremesinghe, a lawyer by training and longtime political figure, served as prime minister of Sri Lanka six times. He became president in 2022 during the height of the island nation’s economic crisis, stepping in after widespread protests forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country. During his tenure, Wickremesinghe pursued a recovery program that brought temporary stability but also introduced austerity measures that angered many citizens. Although he stabilized finances through international bailout deals, his popularity fell sharply. His arrest now adds a new twist to Sri Lanka’s turbulent politics and raises questions about accountability at the highest levels of power.

Ranil Wickremesinghe is one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced politicians, having led the United National Party for decades and entering government service as the country’s youngest cabinet minister at the age of 29. He rose through the political ranks during the late 1970s and 1980s, eventually taking over as leader of the UNP in 1994 after the assassination of several senior colleagues. He later gained a reputation as a skilled negotiator and a reliable political survivor, returning to power multiple times despite frequent setbacks and challenges from rivals.

As president, he took office in 2022 at a time when Sri Lanka was suffering from shortages of food, fuel and medicine following the collapse of its economy. His government negotiated a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund and enforced strict financial measures. However, these policies came with deep spending cuts and higher taxes, sparking public discontent. In the 2024 presidential election, Wickremesinghe finished third behind winner Anura Kumara Dissanayake and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.

His arrest over alleged misuse of state funds could have far reaching consequences for his legacy and for the political landscape of Sri Lanka, where corruption investigations have often shaken public trust in government leaders.

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