Sri Lanka’s political stage has once again witnessed a striking event. Law enforcement officers have arrested former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, accusing him of misusing state funds for personal purposes. This was reported by The Independent.
Charges and reasons
According to reports, the 76-year-old politician is being held accountable for making a personal stop in the United Kingdom during an official trip in 2023. At that time, returning from the G77 summit, he briefly stayed in London and, together with his wife, attended a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton.
At present, Wickremesinghe categorically denies all accusations. According to him, the expenses during the trip were covered by his wife, and no state funds were used. However, Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department considers that the president’s personal visit, including expenses for his bodyguards, was paid from the state budget.
Political career and historical role
Ranil Wickremesinghe has been actively involved in the country’s political life since 1977. At the age of 28, he was elected to parliament, and later he served six times as prime minister. During the mass protests of 2022, he was appointed head of government and soon after became president of Sri Lanka.
His tenure coincided with the country’s most severe economic crisis in history. Wickremesinghe was recognized as a key figure in securing financial aid from the International Monetary Fund. Later he was also acknowledged for his steps toward achieving economic stability.
First arrest of an ex-president
From a historical perspective, this is the first time a former president of Sri Lanka has been arrested. This event will naturally have a significant impact on the country’s political future and on processes within the rule of law system.
Experts believe that the charges against Wickremesinghe may spark major debates and discussions in the coming political processes, as well as push the issue of transparency further forward in Sri Lanka.
Photo: AP
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