The Real Cost of Leadership: What Ranil Wickremesinghe's Travel Tells Us About Power and Accountability"

Only time will tell whether the arrest and remand of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) marks a watershed moment for Sri Lanka.

- BY SANJEEWA JAYAWEERA

While the courts will ultimately determine whether he is guilty of misusing public funds, the political fallout has already exposed deeper systemic issues.

RW's arrest highlighted two uncomfortable truths.

First, politicians—regardless of ideology—stand together when one of their own is in trouble. This is particularly so as many of them realize the fate that awaits them. As former MP Ranjan Ramanayake bluntly put it: “Malli, egola okkoma yaluwo.”

Second, the class divide between English-speaking Colombo-ites and the rest of the country continues to shape the way we perceive governance and accountability. The call for “system change” often ends at the Colombo-ite doorstep—provided their privileges remain untouched.

It was fascinating watching politicians from across the spectrum crowding into the Magistrate's Court one day and lining up outside the prison the next. A friend watching it all unfold remarked that it would've been the perfect moment to push most of them into a large cell, lock it, and throw away the key because many would struggle to justify their accumulated wealth.

A dangerous precedent

Some argue RW should be excused for any missteps, given his role in stabilizing the economy. If that logic holds, then by the same token, Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa—who ended a decades-long war—should also be forgiven. Others suspect the arrest itself is a political ruse, orchestrated by RW and the President to fool the public.

More disturbing still are attempts to justify the use of public funds for RW's two-day layover in London by citing age or health concerns or worse, by claiming an invitation from Wolverhampton University qualifies it as an “official visit.” This would be laughable if it weren't so serious.

No matter the verdict, this moment must spark a national conversation about how public funds are used, whether by presidents, politicians, or bureaucrats.

The culture of privilege