Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested for Misuse of Public Funds

This week, Sri Lankan police arrested Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former president, on accusations of improper use of public funds while he was in office. This unprecedented action marks the first time in Sri Lanka's history that a former head of state has faced such legal scrutiny. According to police spokesman Fredrick Wootler, Wickremesinghe is alleged to have redirected state financial resources to cover costs associated with attending his wife’s graduation in London shortly after he made an official trip to the United States.

Following his arrest, Wickremesinghe attended a hearing at a magistrate's court in Colombo, which lasted several hours on August 22. The court decided to keep him in custody until August 26, and throughout the proceedings, he did not make any public statements, nor did his office issue a comment on the matter. Outside the courthouse, a large crowd of supporters gathered, claiming that the charges against him were politically motivated.

This arrest represents a notable step in the anti-corruption campaign led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who took office last year with a commitment to hold the nation’s political leaders accountable for previous mismanagement. Dissanayake won the presidency in September 2024 after defeating candidates from established parties that were associated with Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis. His party gained greater control of the government in parliamentary elections held two months later, leading to investigations into various past officials accused of corruption.

Wickremesinghe became president in 2022 during a tumultuous period in Sri Lanka, marked by mass demonstrations and an economic downturn that compelled then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. Taking charge, Wickremesinghe swiftly sought to restore economic stability by securing a vital bailout from the International Monetary Fund, although the accompanying austerity measures led to increased taxes and utility bills, further igniting public discontent. His time in office is characterized by an image that is sharply divided; he earned accolades for economic stabilization but faced backlash for the financial burdens placed on the population.