Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday on corruption charges linked to his September 2023 visit to the United Kingdom, police confirmed, while stressing that only limited details could be disclosed due to the ongoing investigation.
Deputy Inspector General Kalinga Jayasinghe revealed that Wickremesinghe’s two-day trip to London on September 22 and 23, 2023, was officially recorded as a private visit, even though it was funded with state resources.
The delegation consisted of Wickremesinghe, his wife Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, his private secretary Sandra Perera, two foreign ministry officials, his personal doctor, and four members of the Presidential Security Division.
Correspondence between the president’s office, the foreign ministry, and the Sri Lankan High Commission in London facilitated the trip. While official records exist for Wickremesinghe’s visits to Cuba and the United States, the U.K. program included no documented official engagements.
According to police, the Sri Lankan High Commission in London billed Sri Lanka £40,445 (approximately Rs. 16.2 million) for travel, accommodation, vehicle rentals, and other expenses for Wickremesinghe, the First Lady, and his private secretary. This figure excluded airfare, which was covered as part of Wickremesinghe’s wider state travel.
Records from the president’s office further showed that an additional Rs. 3.2 million was spent on the personal doctor and security officers.
Police said the investigation was launched on May 23, 2025, after the presidential secretary requested the Inspector General of Police to probe the matter, following an internal inquiry.
