Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was granted bail on a 5-million-rupee ($16,600) bond after arrest over alleged misuse of state funds tied to a 2023 Britain trip. Wickremesinghe, 76, joined the court hearing via Zoom from a state-run hospital where he was admitted for health concerns. Investigators allege he spent $55,000 of government funds on a graduation lunch celebrating his wife's honorary professorship. The bail order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura following a lengthy, heavily secured hearing. Hundreds of supporters, protesters and opposition politicians gathered outside the court. The United National Party described him as innocent and suggested political motivation.
The case against him is based on an investigation into a visit he made to Britain in 2023 in which he spent $55,000 of government funds to attend a graduation lunch as part of celebrations of his wife's honorary professorship at a university there. Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered Wickremesinghe's release on a 5-million-rupee ($16,600) bond after a lengthy hearing held under tight security.
One protester, Samarasiri Kuruwitaarachchi, 69, told The Associated Press news agency that the government has failed to deliver on the promises it made before last year's presidential election and is now trying to hunt down the political opponents. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, deputy leader of Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), told reporters outside the court that the demonstrations are a sign of the independence of our judiciary.
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