Opposition Parties Express Support for Ranil Wickremesinghe

COLOMBO (News 1st)Several political parties held a media briefing in Colombo today to express support for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who remains in custody.

They criticized the judicial process that led to his remand. 

Some key opposition leaders, including Sajith Premadasa and Mahinda Rajapaksa, were absent.

Only MP Kavinda Jayawardena represented the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, while SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa joined midway without commenting.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena participated, and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga sent a statement.

Former MP Professor G.L. Peiris, the main speaker, cited an Indian newspaper article claiming that Wickremesinghe was on the foreign tour on an official invitation.

Ranil Wickremesinghe had submitted a letter dated September 1, 2023, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), claiming he attended a foreign tour on an official invitation.

While remanding Wickremesinghe, the Fort Magistrate’s Court instructed the CID to verify the authenticity of the letter. 

The court noted that previous investigations, which gathered evidence from 38 individuals, made no mention of such a letter, and it had not been submitted by his personal lawyer.

Today, MP Professor G.L. Peiris cited an Indian newspaper to suggest the invitation was official, despite the court’s clear directive for verification