Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he was not the first choice to assume leadership during Sri Lanka’s political and economic crisis in 2022, but stepped in when others declined responsibility.

Speaking at a recent event, Wickremesinghe recalled the circumstances under which he became President, noting that the United National Party (UNP) had been reduced to a single seat in Parliament.

“I may have been about number four. But I thought it could be handled, and we have to go ahead, stabilize the economy, and work it out,” he said.

He emphasized that he did not need special preparation to take on the role. 

“You can’t make yourself ready, you must be ready for it, and you should take it. If you’re not ready for it, then you shouldn’t be in the game,” Wickremesinghe remarked.

The former President explained that he accepted the responsibility because the country was in crisis and no other political leader was willing to step forward. 

He underscored that his priority was to stabilize the economy and restore confidence, relying on parliamentary support to carry forward reforms. (Newswire)

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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)

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The United National Party (UNP) has accused the National People’s Power (NPP) government of failing to pursue the economic recovery and growth framework introduced by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2022.

In a statement, UNP Working Committee member Dinouk Colombage said while the NPP initially continued Wickremesinghe’s stabilization plan, it had neglected the growth component that was central to the strategy.

“The rupee was meant to appreciate and inflation kept below 3%. Instead, the currency continues to depreciate and inflation has climbed above 6%,” he noted.

Colombage argued that the IMF programme has become a “standalone plan” focused solely on stabilization, with no parallel growth measures introduced. 

He questioned how Sri Lanka could prepare to repay debt while simultaneously reducing poverty and raising public income levels without a comprehensive growth agenda.

“The government must answer how it intends to balance debt repayment with improving living standards. Without a growth plan, stabilization alone cannot deliver recovery,” Colombage stressed. (Newswire)

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The United National Party (UNP) has raised concerns over expenses related to the investigation into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK visit, claiming that former official Aruna Fernando was paid £650 to provide evidence in the case recently.

Issuing a statement, the UNP said Aruna Fernando, who served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London during the tenure of High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena, had later left the post without proper notification. 

According to the UNP, Aruna Fernando appeared from Blackpool City before a team of Sri Lankan Police officers, when they visited London to collect evidence regarding the case.

The UNP further alleged that expenses for Wickremesinghe’s visit were arranged by Aruna Fernando, with direct support from Sky Wing Company owned by his associate, Saayi Mukundan.

In addition, the UNP said the government has spent a significant sum to send five Police officers to London for evidence gathering. 

Despite inquiries made under the Right to Information Act five months ago, no response has yet been provided regarding these costs, the UNP statement said. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (29) directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to report on July 8 the progress of investigations into a complaint concerning alleged misuse of state funds involving former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.

Appearing for the complaint, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that indictments against the suspects would be filed before the next hearing date.

He further stated that consideration is being given to naming Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of the former President, as a suspect in the case.

The case stems from allegations against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the misuse of approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London during an official visit in late 2023.

The trip was part of a broader state visit to the United States and the United Kingdom and was reportedly undertaken with a government-funded delegation.

Wickremesinghe was arrested by the CID on August 22, 2025, and remanded until August 26, becoming the first Sri Lankan head of state to be placed in remand custody.

He was later released on three personal bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each, following the submission of medical reports. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently recording a statement from Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

According to reports, CID officials had visited the former President’s residence in Colombo, where the statement is being recorded.  

Details regarding the nature of the inquiry or its connection to ongoing investigations are yet unknown. (Newswire)

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The United National Party (UNP) has announced that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has returned to Sri Lanka following surgery at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. 

According to the UNP statement, he arrived at the Katunayake International Airport this morning (09).

Wickremesinghe departed for Singapore on March 15 to undergo the medical procedure. 

The party further noted that, in line with medical advice, he is expected to spend several weeks recuperating. (Newswire)

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Former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo visited former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is recovering after surgery in Singapore. 

Sharing a photograph on social media, Yeo wrote, ‘Calling on former Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe.’ 

Wickremesinghe is currently recuperating following his recent surgery. (Newswire)

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Opposition parties in Sri Lanka have written to several international legal professional organizations, warning of grave threats to lawyers and the public amid rising violence and politicization of law enforcement.

The letter highlights a recurring pattern of shootings and killings, with more than 60 lives lost last year and nine already in 2026. It cites the daylight killing of attorney‑at‑law Buddhika Mallawarachchi and his wife near a high‑security zone on February 13.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the ranks of the legal profession in our country. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, resorting to an extraordinary course of action after an interval of 14 years, convened a meeting of the entire membership of the Association, comprising more than 3,500 attorneys-at-law, and unanimously resolved at that meeting that all members of the profession should refrain from engaging in their professional work throughout the country on Monday, 16 February. The result of this decision was that all courts, from the Supreme Court to Magistrate’s Courts in all parts of the country, were closed on that day, and thousands of cases scheduled for hearing had to be postponed, they said.

The signatories accuse the police of irresponsibly linking the victim to criminal clients within an hour of the murder, undermining the seriousness of the attack. They warn of erosion in judicial independence, political pressure on the Attorney‑General, and threats to due process. The proposed anti‑terrorism law is described as striking at the root of democratic institutions and targeting media freedom.

For a country which has been justifiably proud of the stature and integrity of institutions responsible for the administration of justice, it is singularly disheartening that there is now, to a significant extent, erosion of an environment conducive to the proper functioning of the court system. Prevailing conditions no longer allow Bench and Bar to fulfil their duties with robust independence, bereft of fear and favour. This poses a basic challenge to the right of any accused person, enshrined in the Constitution of the country, to be represented by Counsel.

There is clear evidence of pressure brought to bear on the Attorney-General, which has the effect of politicising the exercise of the prosecutorial function, with consequent detriment to the perceived fairness of the criminal justice process. Due process, natural justice and established traditions are being cynically violated by vicious political attacks, which have taken the place of legal submissions in Courts of Law, they pointed out. 

The letter further states that the extreme politicization of the police force compromises impartial investigations, and that the government is in breach of its duty under international conventions to protect lawyers.

Rising public discontent across the spectrum is sought to be suppressed by the provisions of a proposed anti-terrorism law, which, in its present form, strikes at the very root of cherished democratic institutions and values in the country, and demonstrably infringes core obligations undertaken by Sri Lanka in international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Directly targeted are media institutions with obvious vulnerability for owners, editors, executive staff, and media personnel at all levels.

The extreme politicization of the police force, under the leadership of an Inspector-General who has jettisoned even the appearance of detachment and objectivity, militates seriously against professionalism and impartiality in respect of criminal investigations, including the inquiry into the recent killing of a member of the legal profession.

The Government is clearly in breach of its duty to take administrative and, if necessary, legislative measures to give effect to Article 9(4) of the Luxembourg Convention, adopted by the Council of Europe, for the protection of lawyers. The Commonwealth Association on 9 July 2016 emphatically endorsed the Convention by the assertion that “If the lawyer is not protected, then no one is protected”. These salient features of a vibrant democracy are today under sustained and formidable challenge in our country, they said. 

The Opposition Parties further alleged that the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, has failed dismally in his duty to secure the safety of citizens and to forestall the increasingly manifest deterioration of law and order in Sri Lanka.

“We would like to alert international professional bodies with regard to the grave threats to the life and safety of professionals in our country, and urge them to make suitable interventions to help us preserve a culture which we have held sacrosanct over the decades,” they added. 

The letter was signed by Opposition members, including Sajith Premadasa (SJB), Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP), Namal Rajapaksa (SLPP), Jeewan Thondaman (CWC), Nimal Siripala De Silva (SLFP), Mano Ganesan (TPA), Dilith Jayaweera (Sravajana Balaya), and others.

The appeal has been addressed to international bodies such as the International Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association, International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, urging intervention to safeguard the legal profession and democratic values in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is recovering following a successful surgery in Singapore, the United National Party (UNP) said.

Issuing a statement, UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena stated that Wickremesinghe remains under medical supervision at the hospital for several more days.

Noting that Wickremesinghe’s birthday falls on March 24, he expressed gratitude to UNP supporters across the nation, marking the occasion with religious observances. (Newswire)

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Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake says former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has undergone surgery.

MP Karunanayake made this statement in Parliament today (19) during the debate on regulations under the Port City Commission Act.

He added that the surgery was completed successfully and wished the former President a speedy recovery. 

The former President is reported to have undergone surgery in Singapore (Newswire)

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United National Party Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the Iranian Embassy in Colombo this morning (05 Mar) to convey condolences on the passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Wickremesinghe, who served as Sri Lanka’s 8th Executive President, met with Iranian Ambassador Alireza Delkosh during his visit.

During the visit, he expressed his sympathies on behalf of Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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A group of Opposition members have held discussions with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe this morning (25 Feb).

It is reported that the meeting was convened to reach a consensus among party leaders on working together in cooperation.

In addition, lengthy discussions were reportedly held on the substandard coal shipments, underworld killings, and gas-related issues.

The meeting took place at the United National Party office on Flower Road in Colombo.

Those who attended included Udaya Gammanpila, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, G.L. Peiris, Mahinda Amaraweera, Sagala Ratnayaka, Thalatha Atukorale, Premnath C. Dolawatta, and Sugishwara Bandara, among others. (Newswire)

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A collective of academics, journalists, feminist activists, and lawyers has issued a statement expressing concern and solidarity with Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, following reports that she has been summoned to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Issuing a statement, the collective stated that the summons is reportedly linked to an ongoing case against her husband, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, concerning the alleged use of public funds to attend a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton. At the event, Professor Wickremesinghe was awarded an Honorary Professorship in recognition of her extensive research, training, and policy work on gender equity and equality.

Professor Wickremesinghe, who holds a PhD from the University of London, serves as Chair and Senior Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya and is the founding Director of its Centre for Gender Studies. With over three decades of teaching and research experience, she has contributed significantly to gender equality policy development, training, and programme evaluation both in Sri Lanka and internationally. Her doctoral work, Making Meaning of Meaning-making: A Case Study of Feminist Research Methodology in Sri Lanka, has been widely cited and published by Routledge, they said. 

The statement highlights her service on national and international advisory bodies, including the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and the Commonwealth Secretariat’s “Commonwealth Says No More” initiative. It also notes her role in catalysing the establishment of gender studies centres across Sri Lanka’s university system.

Signatories stressed that Professor Wickremesinghe is an independent scholar of recognised integrity and distinction, and warned that investigative processes must be conducted fairly, transparently, and in adherence to due process. They expressed concern that she appears to be drawn into proceedings that are political in nature and centred on allegations against her husband.

The statement calls on authorities to ensure that investigative actions do not result in harassment, intimidation, or reputational harm to independent academics, emphasising that academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and protection from political victimisation are essential pillars of democracy. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered notices to be issued to several former and current state officials in connection with a Fundamental Rights petition challenging government programs and circulars that permit individuals to change their gender identity through medical procedures. 

Notices have been issued to former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Attorney General on behalf of incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and several other parties in connection with a petition. 

The petition, filed by retired Air Force veteran Shanta Jayatilaka, challenges government programs and circulars that allow individuals to change their gender identity through medical procedures, claiming they are unlawful. 

The case was heard before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justices Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Wengappuli, and will be taken up again on July 20, with respondents ordered to file objections within a week. (Newswire)

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The Attorney General’s Department informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today that investigations into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe are expected to conclude within a month, with formal charges likely to be filed by March.

The submission was made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, when the case was heard before Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Netthikumara.

Investigators informed the court that there is evidence indicating former President Ranil Wickremesinghe undertook an unofficial visit to the UK. Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Netthikumara stated that the court accepts this claim.

The Attorney General’s Department informed the court that charges against Wickremesinghe will be filed before the High Court. The case is scheduled to be taken up on April 29, 2026. (Newswire)

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Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake was ordered to be remanded until February 11 after appearing before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the ongoing case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Ekanayake has been named as the second suspect in the case, which alleges that Wickremesinghe misused approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds to attend his wife Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe’s graduation ceremony in London during an official visit in late 2023.

The trip was part of a broader state visit to the United States and the United Kingdom and was reportedly undertaken with a government-funded delegation.

Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on August 22, 2025, and remanded until August 26, becoming the first Sri Lankan head of state to be placed in remand custody. He was later released on three personal bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each, following the submission of medical reports. (Newswire)

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today in connection with a case filed under the Public Property Act.

The complaint alleges that during his tenure as President, Wickremesinghe misused state funds to travel to London to attend his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe’s graduation ceremony.

Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in August 2025 over the alleged misuse of approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds during an official visit to the United Kingdom in late 2023. The trip was part of a broader visit to the United States, and he was reportedly accompanied by a delegation funded by the Sri Lankan government.

He was arrested on 22 August before being remanded until August 26, a historic first for a Sri Lankan head of state.

After reviewing medical reports submitted on his behalf, Colombo Fort  Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered that the former President be released on three personal bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each.

When the case was taken up again on October 29, 2025, the Magistrate directed that investigations be concluded by today, January 28, 2026. (NewsWire)

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that religion remains essential even as artificial intelligence continues to advance, stressing that human consciousness cannot be replaced by technology.

‎He made these remarks while attending a religious ceremony held in Galle, where he reflected on the growing global influence of artificial intelligence and its relationship to the human mind.

‎Referring to the ceremony’s welcome song, he said he was informed that it had been generated using artificial intelligence. This prompted him to share his recent inquiries into AI and human cognition. He noted that some argue the rapid development of AI could eventually make religion unnecessary, a view he rejected.

‎“This idea is not limited to Buddhism alone, but applies to all religions,” he said, adding that spiritual traditions address dimensions of human experience beyond the reach of machines.

Wickremesinghe also highlighted the scale of global investment in artificial intelligence, noting that approximately $300 billion has been invested in the sector in the United States. He said this figure amounts to nearly four to five times Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product, adding that China is also making similar large-scale investments.

‎During his remarks, the former president described a recent interaction with ChatGPT, clarifying that his inquiry was not related to financial markets but to the broader question of safeguarding religion in societies increasingly shaped by AI. He said he posed a question about which holds a higher status, whether the human mind or artificial intelligence, citing the opening verse of the ‘Dhammapada’.

‎According to the AI system, Wickremesinghe said, it eventually acknowledged that the human mind is superior, as artificial intelligence operates with limited capabilities.

‎Looking ahead, Wickremesinghe said Buddhists should actively explore ways to integrate Buddhist philosophy with artificial intelligence to ensure long-term sustainability. He added that knowledge, rather than wealth, would be the key factor in navigating the future.

‎“These principles are not only relevant to Buddhism,” he said. “They apply equally to all religious philosophies.” (Newswire)

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A person by the name of Thilini Ranasinghe says she has requested information from the Police under the country’s Right to Information law regarding a visit by officers to an English university linked to an ongoing case involving a former president.

Speaking to reporters outside the Police, Ranasinghe said she visited the Sri Lanka Police to confirm facts related to reports that officers travelled to England in connection with a case involving the imprisonment of Sri Lanka’s eighth executive president.

She added that she has formally requested details about the visit under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, requesting to seek the number of police officers who travelled to England, their identities, the expenses incurred and the outcomes of the visit.

“I am not requesting any sensitive information about the case itself, because it is still ongoing,” Ranasinghe said. “What I need to know is how much public money was spent and what results were achieved from this visit.”

She said her request was made in her capacity as a citizen and taxpayer and that she expects the relevant authorities to provide the information within 14 days, as required by law.

Responding to questions about her motive, Ranasinghe said the public has a right to know how state funds are used by authorities.

“As citizens and taxpayers, we have the right to know how our money is being spent,” she said.

Asked whether she would take legal action if misuse of funds or other irregularities were revealed, Ranasinghe said she believes the law applies equally to all and plans to address the media again after receiving the requested information and related documents. 

“If there has been any wrongdoing, I will file a fundamental rights petition and take the necessary legal steps,” she said. 

The case involving the former president remains under legal proceedings, and according to official disclosures in Parliament, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has incurred expenses totalling Rs. 1.27 billion for 23 overseas visits between 2022 and 2024. 

These figures were reported by Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa, who told Parliament that the total covered 23 foreign tours during Wickremesinghe’s tenure, including four in 2022, 14 in 2023 and five in 2024. (Newswire)

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