Sri Lanka’s former President and six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on Friday, August 22, 2025, by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on allegations of misusing public funds for a private trip.
The suspected misuse centered on a September 2023 trip to London, purportedly to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony, which investigators claim was financed with state resources .
Wickremesinghe, who served as president from 2022 to 2024, is the first former Sri Lankan head of state to face arrest in connection to alleged corruption, marking a significant precedent in the island nation’s fight against high-level financial misuse .
Following questioning by authorities, he was taken into custody and was scheduled to appear before the Colombo Fort Magistrate later on Friday .
The allegations specifically involve misuse of state resources such as travel funding and protection grids for what was ostensibly a personal trip.
Officials assert that his attendance at his wife’s graduation—ostensibly a private event—was covered by government expenditures.
Wickremesinghe’s office had previously maintained that his wife’s private expenses were borne personally, without state support .
Reactions to the arrest have underlined its potential impact on Sri Lankan politics.
It represents a high-profile escalation of the current administration’s anti-corruption efforts, signaling a shift toward greater accountability among former leaders .
Further details on the defense’s response or political fallout are still emerging.