The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (08) ordered that the case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, who face allegations of misusing state funds, be called again on September 30 to obtain the Attorney General’s position on the legal steps to be taken.
The case was heard before Magistrate Pasan Amarasena.
Officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the court that investigations had been completed and referred to the Attorney General.
The Senior State Counsel confirmed this and requested a date to present the Attorney General’s stance.
Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe’s Counsel submitted that investigators had stated about half of the contested funds were spent on vehicles. He argued, however, that the vehicles had been provided by the British Government, handing over a related document to the State Counsel and requesting further inquiry.
After considering submissions, the Magistrate directed that the case be recalled on September 30, with the Attorney General’s position to be communicated to court on that date.
The CID has presented Wickremesinghe and Ekanayake as suspects, alleging misuse of more than Rs. 16.6 million in state funds for a private trip to the UK in 2023 to attend the former President’s wife’s graduation ceremony. (Newswire)