The case related to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be taken up again in the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (30). Information will be presented in court today regarding the next step in the investigation into the use of government funds related to his 2023 visit to Britain during his presidency.
Investigating officials said that more than 16.6 million rupees were spent from the state fund for the said visit. Although the trip was presented as an official visit, part of it was related to personal activity, according to the investigation.
Former President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has also been linked to Ranil Wickramasinghe in this case. The court was informed earlier that the investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department have been completed and the documents related to the investigation have been sent to the Attorney General.
According to reports, the court will be notified mainly about the position of the Attorney General in today’s hearing. Based on this, the next step may include actions related to how to proceed with the case.
The case has already gone through several phases. Ranil Wickramasinghe was present in the court during the past hearings and the hearings against him were also ongoing.
The main issue behind the case is the British visit in 2023. Then Ranil Wickramasinghe was the President. The court was told that he also attended an honor given to his wife at a university event in Britain.
Legal proceedings have now been initiated in relation to government funds used for the trip. According to the investigating officers, more than 16.6 million rupees were spent out of government funds.
Ranil’s explanation regarding the allegations in the case
However, Ranil Wickramasinghe’s side did not accept the allegations that government funds were misused in this trip. His lawyers told the court that the visit was at the invitation of a British university.
Lawmakers have also questioned the clear separation between official and private foreign travel by a serving president. They have also argued that there is no clear basis for the allegation of misappropriation of state funds.
Also, Ranil Wickramasinghe’s side has given an explanation regarding the expenses for the vehicles used during the trip. Lawyers noted that a significant portion of the expenses presented by investigators were related to vehicle use. However, they told the court that the vehicles were provided by the British government and they have documents to confirm this.
Likewise, it has been reported by the former President that he personally paid the travel expenses of Ranil Wickramasinghe’s wife. As a result, there is a need to clarify the truth of the allegations that government funds have been used through a court investigation.
Ranil Wickramasinghe had already been arrested in 2025
Ranil Wickramasinghe had already been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in this case. On August 22, 2025, news broke that he was arrested following his statement for interrogation. He was later produced in court and released on bail.
At the time, the arrest received much attention in Sri Lanka’s political environment. As the incident involved the arrest of a former president based on a criminal investigation, various political comments were made. His supporters said the move was politically motivated. Meanwhile, on the part of the government, it was interpreted as part of a legal action related to corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
However, the mere fact that an arrest or trial has taken place does not prove that a person is guilty. The allegations made in the case should be treated as allegations until the court proceedings are completed and an appropriate legal decision is taken.
The attorney general’s position in today’s hearing could be crucial in deciding the next phase of the case. As the court has already been informed that the Criminal Investigation Department has completed its investigations and submitted its reports to the Attorney General, the information regarding the legal action to be taken based on those investigations may be released today.
The Ranil Wickramasinghe case has raised questions beyond his political career and the use of state funds and accountability of former heads of state. In particular, the purpose for which government spending is used and how the boundary between official and private activities is determined are issues of focus in this case.
After today’s court proceedings, there may be more clarity on whether the case will continue, what the next legal action will be or what position the Attorney General will take.
Until then, it is important to keep in mind that the allegations leveled against Ranil Wickramasinghe and other related parties are only allegations and their final legal status will be determined based on court proceedings.