Breaking: Former Sri Lankan President Arrested in Misuse of Public Funds Scandal!”

Описание: ‪@TrendAndTruth-x7h‬ ,Ex-Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested | London Trip State Funds Misuse Allegation | Breaking News 2025

On 22 August 2025, Sri Lanka was shaken by a political earthquake. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who held the office until earlier this year, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo. The arrest is connected to allegations that he misused state funds worth Rs 16.9 million (approx. USD 50,000) to finance a private detour to London during an official trip in 2023.

📖 The Allegations

The case against Wickremesinghe stems from his September 2023 foreign visit. Officially, he was scheduled to attend the G77 + China Summit in Cuba and later travel to the United States for the UN General Assembly. However, between these official engagements, he allegedly made an unscheduled stop in London.

According to investigators, the London visit was not for official state purposes, but to attend the graduation ceremony of his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton. Authorities allege that this detour was funded by state money meant for official travel, amounting to nearly Rs 16.9 million.

The government argues this represents a serious misuse of public funds at a time when Sri Lanka was going through its worst economic crisis in decades, struggling with debt defaults, inflation, shortages, and IMF-driven austerity measures.

📍 The Arrest

Ranil Wickremesinghe was summoned by the CID to provide a statement. On 22 August 2025, after his arrival, he was formally placed under arrest and presented before a magistrate in Colombo Fort Court.

The arrest immediately made global headlines, with major international outlets like Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera covering the development.

Opposition members hailed the arrest as a long-overdue step toward justice, while supporters of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) condemned it as politically motivated persecution.

⚖️ Wickremesinghe’s Defense

Wickremesinghe and his party leaders have denied all wrongdoing. They insist that:

The London trip was privately funded by his family, not state money.

He combined the personal stop with official engagements, which is normal practice for leaders during foreign visits.

The case is being pushed forward by political opponents as part of a wider purge by the ruling administration.

Wickremesinghe has also claimed that his government’s tough decisions, including IMF negotiations, fuel subsidies, and debt restructuring, made him unpopular with entrenched elites, who now want to discredit him.

🏛️ The Bigger Crackdown

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to power earlier in 2025, promised a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Since then:

Over a dozen ministers, MPs, and senior bureaucrats from past governments are under investigation.

Several cases involve fraud, misuse of development funds, and procurement scandals during the 2019–2023 crisis years.

The government says it is determined to show that “no one is above the law”, even if they are former presidents.

The arrest of Wickremesinghe is being portrayed as the crown jewel of this anti-corruption drive.

📜 Who is Ranil Wickremesinghe?

Born: March 24, 1949.

Political Career: Leader of the United National Party (UNP).

Prime Minister: Served multiple times between 1993 and 2019.

President of Sri Lanka: Elected in 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled during mass protests.

Role in Crisis: Credited with stabilizing Sri Lanka during its worst financial collapse, but criticized for IMF austerity measures and shielding political elites.

His career has always been polarizing—admired by international lenders for his pragmatism, but disliked by grassroots activists who saw him as an elitist politician disconnected from ordinary people.

🔎 Why This Arrest Matters

Historical Precedent: It shatters the untouchable status of former heads of state.

Public Sentiment: Sri Lankans, battered by years of corruption scandals, see this as a turning point for justice.

Political Turmoil: The arrest will likely deepen polarization between ruling coalition supporters and Wickremesinghe loyalists.

Global Signal: The move shows that Sri Lanka wants to project itself as serious about transparency under the new leadership.

🎥 About This Video

In this video, we cover:

The full story of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s arrest.

The details of the alleged misuse of state funds.

The political consequences in Sri Lanka.

Global reaction and what comes next.

Stay tuned for real-time updates, analysis, and future developments.

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👉 Comment below: Do you think Wickremesinghe’s arrest is justice served, or political revenge?