The AFP news agency quoted a Sri Lankan investigator as saying former president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested Tuesday after officials questioned him about a trip to London in 9/2023.
The former Sri Lankan leader stopped in the UK capital on his way back from the G77 summit in Havana, Cuba. He and his wife, Maithree, attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where she received an honorary professorship.
According to the Sri Lankan investigator, Wickremesinghe will be tried on charges of using state assets for personal gain.
The former president's office previously denied that the politician had exploited his position to travel to London. Wickremesinghe also insisted his wife paid for her own travel expenses and did not use public funds.
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Wickremesinghe (center) arrives at court after being arrested in Colombo on 22/8. Photo: AFP |
Wickremesinghe (center) arrives at court after being arrested in Colombo on 22/8. Photo: AFP
However, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka alleges that he used state funds to cover the trip's costs and pay his bodyguards' salaries. Three former senior advisors to the former president were questioned by the CID this month.
Wickremesinghe became president of Sri Lanka in 7/2022, serving the remainder of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term after Rajapaksa resigned under pressure from months of protests against government corruption and mismanagement.
During his time in office, Wickremesinghe secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in early 2023. He is credited with stabilizing the country's economy after its worst financial crisis in 2022.
He doubled taxes and eliminated energy subsidies as part of austerity measures to boost the budget. Despite losing the election in 9/2024, he remains a key member of the opposition, although his alliance holds only two of the 225 seats in parliament.
Wickremesinghe is the highest-ranking member of the opposition arrested in the anti-corruption campaign launched by President Kumara Dissanayake after he took office.
Several opposition politicians, including two former senior ministers, have been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for corruption since the leftist government came to power.
Some members of former president Rajapaksa's party have also been prosecuted for misusing public funds. Many of them are out on bail awaiting trial.
Dissanayake's government impeached the police chief earlier this month after accusing him of leading a criminal ring that aided politicians. The head of Sri Lanka's prison system has also been jailed for corruption.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
