Former Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe arrested on allegations of misusing state funds

Описание: (22 Aug 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colombo - 22 August 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Close of Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president of Sri Lanka sitting inside an official vehicle, escorted by officials and showing his hands in cuffs
2. Close of vehicle moving away
3. Various of a crowd of supporters of Wickremesinghe gathered outside the court protesting his arrest
4. Various of security personnel standing guard
STORYLINE:
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s former president and senior opposition politician was arrested by the country’s police on Friday over allegations of misusing public funds during his tenure as president, police said.

Wickremesinghe, who served as the island nation’s president from 2022 to 2024, was arrested on allegations of using public funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London after an official visit to the U.S., police spokesman Fedrick Wootler told The Associated Press.

Wickremesinghe was later produced before a Magistrate court in the capital Colombo and after a lengthy hearing was ordered to be kept in remand until Aug. 26.

He didn't comment during the hearing and there was no immediate statement from his office.

A large crowd of supporters of Wickremesinghe gathered outside the court protested his arrest.

Wickremesinghe is the first Sri Lankan former head of state to be arrested and is the most high profile leader who is under investigation for corruption under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government, which came to power last year promising to punish those accused of corruption under previous governments.

Already, more than a dozen political leaders of the previous government and ex-high government officials have been arrested and are under investigation for alleged corruption and malpractice.





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