Why Is Sri Lanka’s Ex-President Ranil Under Investigation?

COLOMBO (News 1st);  Political shockwaves are rippling across Sri Lanka as former President Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday (22) for questioning over a controversial foreign trip allegedly funded by public money.

The Criminal Investigation Department initiated a special investigation into a foreign trip allegedly funded by public money and undertaken by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The CID formally notified the Colombo Magistrate’s Court of the inquiry during the final week of June, through a detailed B-report.

According to the report, the former President is suspected of spending approximately Rs. 16.9 million in government funds to travel to the United Kingdom to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony.

The trip reportedly took place on September 22 and 23, 2023, and included ten individuals accompanying Wickremesinghe.

Police further stated that the former President was on an official visit to Cuba and the United States at the time, and had diverted to the UK from the U.S. to participate in the private event.

The CID has already recorded statements from Saman Ekanayake, the former Presidential Secretary, and Sandra Perera, who served as Wickremesinghe’s personal secretary.