Fri Aug 29 17:15:21 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a rewritten news article based on that information:
**Summary:**
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was discharged from Colombo National Hospital on August 29, 2025, after being treated for dehydration, hypertension, and diabetes following his arrest on August 22, 2025. He was arrested on charges of misusing public funds related to a 2023 trip to the UK. He was granted bail on health grounds. His arrest has sparked controversy, with the opposition calling it political revenge by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government. Wickremesinghe’s office denies the allegations, claiming the trip was part of official duties. The government defends the arrest as part of an anti-corruption drive.
**News Article:**
**Former Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe Released From Hospital Amid Corruption Probe Controversy**
**Colombo, Sri Lanka – August 29, 2025** – Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was discharged from Colombo National Hospital today, a week after being admitted following his controversial arrest on charges of alleged misuse of public funds. The arrest, which took place on August 22, 2025, has ignited a political firestorm in the island nation, with opposition parties decrying it as an act of political retribution.
Wickremesinghe, a six-time Prime Minister, was rushed to the ICU on August 23rd, suffering from severe dehydration, hypertension, and diabetes-related complications. He was granted bail on health grounds on August 26th.
“Mr. Wickremesinghe was sent home today and he will be under medical supervision,” Ruwan Wijewardene, Deputy Leader of the United National Party, told The Hindu. Wickremesinghe is expected to release a statement this weekend.
The arrest stems from allegations that Wickremesinghe misused public funds during a September 2023 visit to the United Kingdom, coinciding with an honorary award bestowed upon his wife by a British University. Wickremesinghe’s office has vehemently denied the accusations, stating that the trip was part of a broader official journey that included attending the G77 summit in Havana and addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The arrest has drawn condemnation from past presidents and members of the opposition, who view it as politically motivated. However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government defends the action, asserting that “everyone is equal before the law.” The government maintains that the arrest is part of its ongoing anti-corruption campaign, launched almost a year ago, which has already seen over a dozen former ministers and top officials arrested on similar charges. The image of Wickremesinghe leaving the hospital, clutching a copy of Boris Johnson’s memoir, has already gone viral on social media.
The case against Wickremesinghe marks the first time a former Head of State in Sri Lanka has been arrested, further intensifying the scrutiny and adding another layer to the nation’s already complex political landscape.
First Piper 