Former Sri Lankan president Wickremesinghe arrested over alleged misuse of state funds

Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe is arrested in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 22, 2025. Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported.

Wickremesinghe was arrested for charges of misusing state funds to visit London to attend a graduation ceremony of his wife, during his tenure as president in September 2023, according to local media.

It is the first time a former executive president has been arrested in Sri Lanka's history, and he has been brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court following his arrest, according to local media.

As part of the investigations, the CID had previously recorded statements from the former president's private secretary and his presidential secretary.

Wickremesinghe arrived at the CID to provide a statement on Friday morning, and he was taken into custody following the recording of the statement, said media reports.

File photo taken on Sept. 21, 2024 shows Ranil Wickremesinghe (Front) leaving a polling station after casting his vote for the presidential election 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Aug. 22, 2025 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged misuse of state funds, state media reported. (Xinhua/Wu Yue)