Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former president of Sri Lanka, was admitted to the ICU on Saturday after being taken into custody the previous night. The Colombo National Hospital reported that Wickremesinghe is being treated for severe dehydration and is under close observation. The charges against Wickremesinghe involve the alleged misuse of government funds for a private international trip.
The 76-year-old Wickremesinghe was remanded by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court until August 26th. He was later transferred to the Magazine Remand Prison on Friday evening. Wickremesinghe is also reported to have pre-existing conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes. Hospital sources have indicated that his condition has stabilized.
According to a remand prison spokesperson, Wickremesinghe was transferred to the National Hospital because the prison’s medical facilities were not equipped to handle his deteriorating health. Opposition figures who had met with Wickremesinghe earlier in the day stated that he had been in good spirits. However, his health took a turn for the worse during the night.
Despite losing the election, Wickremesinghe has remained politically involved.
After losing the September presidential election to Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Wickremesinghe continued to be active in politics despite no longer holding office. Dissanayake has been campaigning against corruption in Sri Lanka, which led to Wickremesinghe’s arrest.
The United National Party (UNP), led by Wickremesinghe, holds two seats in the 225-member parliament. The UNP has voiced concerns, suggesting that the current government is threatened by the former president. UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala stated in Colombo that there is apprehension that Wickremesinghe might attempt to regain power, which they believe is the reason for the recent actions.
Reasons for Wickremesinghe’s Custody
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) alleges that the former president misused government resources during a trip to London in September 2023, and that the costs associated with his private security detail were also covered by government funds. During September 2023, Wickremesinghe attended the G77 conference in Havana, Cuba. On his return, he made a stop in London to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony. The CID claims that the trip was for personal reasons rather than official business, yet was funded by the state.