Sri Lanka ’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday in connection with an investigation into alleged misuse of government funds, a senior police official confirmed to AFP.
Police said the 76-year-old was detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo, where he had been summoned for questioning.
The arrest relates to a September 2023 visit to London , where Wickremesinghe attended a university graduation ceremony for his wife. Authorities allege the trip, part of a broader overseas tour, was not an official engagement and was funded by the state.
Wickremesinghe became president in July 2022 following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation and is credited with stabilising the economy after a major crisis. He lost his re-election bid in September 2024.
This is a developing story. Details to follow...
Police said the 76-year-old was detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo, where he had been summoned for questioning.
The arrest relates to a September 2023 visit to London , where Wickremesinghe attended a university graduation ceremony for his wife. Authorities allege the trip, part of a broader overseas tour, was not an official engagement and was funded by the state.
Wickremesinghe became president in July 2022 following Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation and is credited with stabilising the economy after a major crisis. He lost his re-election bid in September 2024.
This is a developing story. Details to follow...
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