Wickremesinghe released on bail, but his case divides the country
Released on health grounds, the former Sri Lankan president is accused of using state funds for a private trip to the United Kingdom in 2023 to celebrate his wife's honorary award. His supporters say his arrest is a threat to democracy, and some in the international community are concerned over the treatment of the man who was called to save the country from financial default. But those who opposed him say that the law must be equal for everyone.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – After a lengthy deliberation last night, the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court granted bail for health reasons to former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The 76-year-old was arrested on 22 August on charges of misuse of public funds. At the heart of the case are 16.6 million rupees of state funds (US$ 55,000) spent on a private trip abroad.
Wickremesinghe's supporters and members of his party claim that the attack against him is politically motivated. After demonstrating outside the courthouse yesterday, they welcomed his release.
The former president did not appear in court due to his health, but attended the hearing via videoconference from the National Hospital in Colombo.
His lawyer presented medical documentation showing that three of the former president's four coronary arteries are blocked.
“He has to be closely observed and treated for acute dehydration to prevent serious complications,” said Dr Rukshan Bellana. “He was a severe diabetic with high blood pressure,” he added.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, an economist, served six terms as prime minister of Sri Lanka before assuming the role of president in the summer 2022 until 2024, following street protests that led to the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, amid a severe economic crisis.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peiris charged him of using public funds for a trip to the United Kingdom on 22 and 23 September, 2023, where his wife, Maithree Wickremesinghe, an academic specialising in gender studies, received an honorary award.
The trip was initially listed in official documents as a private visit, but later, according to court records, the expenses incurred by the then president and his entourage (ten people) were covered by state funds.
Wickremesinghe's lawyers presented a letter of invitation to the ceremony, purportedly sent by the University of Wolverhampton, which had not been included in either official documents or in witness testimonies to police; for this reason, the court deemed the document inadmissible.
While granting bail, the court set a new hearing for 29 October to resume proceedings.
The legal case brought against the former president, who was resoundingly defeated at the polls a year ago by the current head of state, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is fuelling tensions across the country.
Yesterday, a police officer was attacked and injured by Wickremesinghe supporters gathered outside the Colombo Fort courthouse.
Erik Solheim, the Norwegian diplomat who played a crucial role in the early 2000s in the peace negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers, expressed reservations about the arrest.
“We are all concerned for his health during detention,” he wrote on his official X account. “Ranil was the leader who stood up to save Sri Lanka when the nation reached rock bottom of economic and political disaster in 2022."
For Solheim, “The accusations against Ranil are without merit. Even if they were true, they will not constitute any criminal or even unacceptable behavior in Europe.”
“I give full support to the Sri Lankan government's campaign against corruption, but please focus on real issues!” he added.
According to the former president's party, the presidents of three important countries and a number of international human rights groups have requested more details about the arrest.
For his part, Wickremesinghe called on the opposition to remain united to defend democracy.
However, not everyone is standing by him. People who did not like his harsh austerity policy are calling for the case to be thoroughly examined, as his actions would constitute an abusive use of state assets.
He “was granted bail due to his complex health issues,” but the “crimes he committed are more serious,” and “the same law that applies to the general public should also be applied to him”.
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