Former Sri Lankan President Arrested on Corruption Charges

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested by the police. The arrest stems from accusations of misusing public funds during his tenure as head of state. He served as president of the island nation from 2022 to 2024.

The allegations against Mr. Wickremesinghe involve the use of public funds to attend his wife's graduation ceremony in London. This occurred after an official visit to the United States, according to police spokesman Fedrick Wootler. Following his arrest by the Financial Crimes Investigations Department, the former president was brought before a court.

The court has remanded Mr. Wickremesinghe in custody, with a second hearing scheduled for Tuesday. This marks a significant event, as he is the first former Sri Lankan head of state to be arrested. He is also the most prominent figure currently under investigation for corruption under the administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

President Dissanayake's government, which took power last year, pledged to address corruption allegations against those who served in previous administrations. Mr. Dissanayake's victory in the presidential election last September was followed by a landslide win for his party in the parliamentary election two months later, allowing him to form a strong government.

In the wake of the new government, numerous arrests and investigations have been initiated. Over a dozen political leaders from the previous government and former high-ranking officials are currently under investigation for alleged corruption and malpractice.

Mr. Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency in the wake of Sri Lanka's economic crisis, which led to a political upheaval and the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. He is credited with stabilizing the economy, with inflation decreasing, the local currency strengthening, and foreign reserves increasing. However, his administration faced criticism for implementing austerity measures, including tax increases and utility bill hikes, as part of a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund.