Sun Aug 24 13:11:03 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested on charges of misusing public funds during his presidency for a trip to the UK. The arrest has sparked outrage from opposition leaders, including former Presidents, who condemn it as political revenge and a threat to democratic values. Wickremesinghe has been remanded in custody and is receiving medical treatment. The government defends the arrest as part of an anti-corruption drive, while the opposition criticizes the severity of the action.

**News Article:**

**Sri Lanka: Former President Wickremesinghe’s Arrest Sparks Political Uproar**

**Colombo, Sri Lanka – August 24, 2025** – The arrest of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday, August 22, 2025, on charges of misusing public funds has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition leaders decrying the move as “political revenge” by the National People’s Power (NPP) government.

Wickremesinghe, 76, is accused of spending approximately $55,000 (LKR 16.6 million) in state funds on a 2023 trip to the UK. He visited the University of Wolverhampton with his wife while he was president. Wickremesinghe’s office denies the accusations.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called the arrest “a calculated onslaught on the very essence of our democratic values,” arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent. Other prominent figures, including former President Maithripala Sirisena, who once controversially sacked Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, have echoed these concerns.

The arrest has brought together a diverse coalition of opposition voices, with some suggesting the government is pursuing a less substantial charge instead of addressing more serious past allegations against Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe was remanded in custody and subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Colombo National Hospital due to “severe dehydration”, hypertension, and diabetes.

Government officials maintain that the arrest is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign and that “everyone is equal before the law.” Cabinet Minister Bimal Rathnayake defended the arrest in Parliament, questioning the logic of exempting leaders from accountability.

The absence of Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa from the opposition’s media conference has been noted. The situation continues to unfold, raising questions about the state of Sri Lankan democracy.

Read More