When does private become public? The blurry line in politics

Sri Lanka’s political discourse is ablaze following the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, accused of misappropriating approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds for a September 2023 London trip—allegedly to attend his wife’s university convocation, with no official meetings on his itinerary.

- by CA. Sallya

At first glance, the charge sounds simple enough: taxpayers’ money, a family trip, misuse. But politics, like life, is rarely that neat. This allegation raises deeper questions every citizen ought to reflect on: Is every movement of a Head of State automatically “official”? Or should leaders be judged by the same yardstick as private citizens, expected to pay out of pocket even when their position demands state resources? And at what point does the blending of personal and public duties become a matter of accountability?

The Entitlement of Office

A President, unlike you or me, cannot simply book an online ticket and slip through the airport unnoticed. Every journey is accompanied by a security convoy, diplomatic clearance, protocol officers, and logistical support. These arrangements are not luxuries—they are obligations of the State.

Whether the President is addressing the UN, meeting another head of state, or attending a family event, the government machinery moves with him. This is the nature of the office.

But here lies the tricky part: what if the trip contains a personal element? Should the public purse still bear the full expense?

When Precedent Speaks Louder

Sri Lanka is no stranger to blurred lines between personal and official travel.

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s case is now in the spotlight because it involved his wife’s convocation in London.

The current President recently came under scrutiny for deploying state security and official vehicles for visits to Thambuththegama, Anuradhapura, where his ailing mother was receiving treatment. Sympathetic though the situation was, questions were raised: should public resources be tied up for personal family visits?