THE ARREST AND REMAND OF FORMER PRESIDENT RANIL WICKREMESINGHE

Former Sri Lankan President President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lankan Police on Friday 22nd August 2025.

- D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Subsequently he was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and remanded until August 26, 2025. Seventy six-year-old Wickremesinghe, who has also been sworn in as Prime Minister six times in the past, became the first Sri Lankan ex-president to be arrested and remanded in the island's history.

Wickremesinghe had been earlier summoned on September 19 by the CID to record a statement from him about his visit to the Wolverhampton University in the United Kingdom (UK) in September 2023 when he was serving as head of state. President Wickremesinghe had accompanied his wife Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe for a ceremony at the University where Dr.Wickremesinghe received an honorary Professorship.

Wolverhampton Invitation

The then president Wickremesinghe and First Lady Maithree Wickremesinghe had been formally invited for a celebratory Graduation luncheon at the Wolverhampton campus by the vice chancellor. The invitation was channelled through the Sri Lankan High Commission in London. It was then sent to the Sri Lankan Foreign ministry which forwarded it officially to the Presidential secretariat. The official letter dated September 1, 2023 stated as follows Dear Mr. Wickramasinghe and Wickramasinghe, Prof.

"On behalf of the University of Wolverhampton's Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Swraj Paul of Marylebone, PC, The Board of Governors and the Academic Board, I am delighted to invite you to join the University for a special graduation luncheon on Friday 22nd of September 2023, at our Wolverhampton Campus.

"This luncheon is part of the celebrations of Prof. Wickramasinghe's Honorary Professorship, and will take place in the build up to the graduation ceremony itself.

"The graduation ceremony will commence at 14:30 in Wolverhampton, and we would be delighted if you are able to join us for the graduation luncheon, commencing at 12:00.