Sri Lanka Arrests Former President Wickremesinghe Over Corruption Probe

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on allegations of misusing state funds during a 2023 overseas trip to London, which included attending his wife's university convocation ceremony. The investigation centers on the purported use of approximately Rs. 16.9 million of public money for the London portion of the trip. Prior to his arrest, Wickremesinghe's staff, including his former presidential and private secretaries, were questioned as part of the ongoing inquiry. Wickremesinghe was detained shortly after arriving at the CID office to record a statement, marking the first time a former head of state in Sri Lanka has been arrested. The development has raised significant political attention and questions about its implications for the country's governance. Local media and police sources have reported on the arrest, but further details about the investigation remain undisclosed.