Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday on suspicion of embezzling public funds during a trip abroad in 2023 and has been placed in pre-trial detention.
A court in Colombo Fort ruled that Wickremesinghe must remain in custody at least until Tuesday, when a hearing will be held to address the allegations against him.
Wickremesinghe, who lost a presidential election in September, is the most prominent opposition figure to be detained as part of an anti-corruption campaign launched by the country’s new leftist government.
The former president was questioned on Friday about a trip to the United Kingdom in September 2023. During the visit, he attended a ceremony at which his wife was awarded a diploma.
Wickremesinghe has insisted that his wife personally covered her travel expenses and has denied any misuse of public funds. However, prosecutors allege that he used taxpayer money to finance the trip and that the State also covered the costs of his security detail.
This case marks a significant development in Sri Lanka’s ongoing effort to address corruption among public officials.
