Sri Lanka detains ex-President Wickremesinghe on suspicion of corruption

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested and remanded on corruption charges, becoming the first head of state in the country’s history to face such a trial.

The 76-year-old leader was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department over allegations of misusing public funds during a 2023 trip to the U.K. Authorities say state money covered his travel and security expenses for what they describe as a private visit.

Wickremesinghe, who maintains that his wife paid her own way and no public funds were misused, was initially admitted to the Prison Hospital and later transferred to the National Hospital’s ICU for dehydration. He has been remanded under the Public Property Act until August 26 and is due to appear before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court this afternoon.