Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Faces Legal Trouble Over Misuse of State Funds

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is facing serious legal challenges as he and his secretary are indicted for misappropriating state funds. The allegations involve using public money for personal travel to attend his wife's graduation at a British university. Wickremesinghe claims he was on official business, but the court has ordered an investigation update. This case follows his historic arrest last year, making him the first sitting president to be detained. With ongoing health issues, he missed a recent court appearance. Read on to learn more about this significant legal battle and its implications for Sri Lanka.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 29, 2026, 19:56 IST

Legal Proceedings Against Wickremesinghe

In Colombo, former President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with his secretary Saman Ekanayake, is set to face charges for allegedly misusing state funds amounting to 16.6 million Lankan Rupees (approximately USD 52,000), as revealed in a local court on Wednesday.

The allegations state that they improperly utilized state resources for Wickremesinghe's trip to the University of Wolverhampton in the UK in 2023, which was for his wife's graduation ceremony.

Wickremesinghe, who held the presidential office from 2022 to 2024, contended that his attendance was due to an official invitation from the university and that he was merely in transit back to Sri Lanka after fulfilling official duties in other nations.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide an update on the investigation, with a report due by July 8.

The state prosecutor indicated that formal charges would be lodged on the same date.

Wickremesinghe made history in August of the previous year by becoming the first sitting president to be arrested, although he was released on bail shortly thereafter due to health issues.

Having undergone heart surgery in Singapore last month, he was absent from court due to ongoing health concerns.

Wickremesinghe succeeded Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President, completing the remaining term until the end of 2024, and is recognized for his role in guiding Sri Lanka through the economic turmoil of 2022.