Protests erupt in Sri Lanka’s capital over the arrest of ex-president Wickremesinghe
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Sri Lankan court on Tuesday granted bail to former president Ranil Wickremesinghe after his arrest over alleged misuse of public funds during his time in office.
Wickremesinghe, who was taken into custody on Friday, stands accused of utilizing public funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London following official visits to Cuba and the United States in 2023.
According to Wickremesinghe’s aide Danushka Ramanayake, the Magistrates’ Court in Colombo has granted him bail, although further details are currently scarce.
Amidst the court proceedings, a large number of Wickremesinghe’s supporters gathered on the streets to denounce his arrest, labeling it as a politically motivated attack by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Some demonstrators clad in black clothing waved black flags and chanted slogans condemning the arrest while demanding Wickremesinghe’s immediate release.
One protester, 69-year-old Samarasiri Kuruwitaarachchi, criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promises to the people and accused it of attempting to suppress political opponents.
Following the conclusion of the hearing, Wickremesinghe’s supporters celebrated and danced in the streets.
Opposition lawmakers and politicians have condemned Wickremesinghe’s arrest, arguing that it poses a threat to the country’s democracy.
Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake refuted allegations of political vendetta, stating that Wickremesinghe’s arrest was in compliance with the law and part of the government’s efforts to investigate potential misconduct by previous administrations.
Wickremesinghe’s party maintained that he attended the graduation ceremony in an official capacity following an invitation received in that regard.
The former president, currently hospitalized at Colombo National Hospital for dehydration and related health issues, did not physically attend the court hearing but participated remotely.
Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe, a director at the hospital, reported that Wickremesinghe’s condition has shown signs of improvement after his admission on Saturday.
Wickremesinghe, who assumed office following Sri Lanka’s economic turmoil that led to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation in 2022, is credited with stabilizing the economy, reducing inflation, strengthening the local currency, and bolstering foreign reserves. However, his administration faced backlash over stringent austerity measures.
