GS2 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Background:
Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was detained in August 2025 on accusations of misusing approximately LKR 16.2 million (USD 50,000) in public money. The alleged misuse reportedly took place during his visit to the United Kingdom in September 2023, where funds were diverted for a university event linked to his wife.
Events Triggering the Arrest
- The arrest took place shortly after Wickremesinghe returned from the G77+China Summit in Havana, Cuba.
- He was remanded for four days before securing bail.
- Supporters dismiss the accusations as politically motivated and insignificant in scale, questioning the timing and intent of the probe.
Political Undercurrents and Allegations of Revenge
- The development is widely seen as a political counterattack by the current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who defeated Wickremesinghe in the 2024 presidential elections.
- Observers describe the arrest as part of a broader power struggle, aimed at weakening the old political guard and consolidating the National People’s Power (NPP) government.
Public Mood: Demand for Accountability
- Sri Lanka has witnessed a surge in anti-corruption sentiment over the last few years.
- The 2022 “Aragalaya” protests, driven by economic collapse and public anger at elite corruption, exposed deep distrust toward ruling politicians.
- Wickremesinghe, seen as aligned with the old elite, continues to face public skepticism.
Selective Justice or Symbolic Action?
- Critics argue the case against Wickremesinghe is relatively minor when compared to major corruption scandals like the LKR 144 million medical procurement scam.
- This raises concerns about selective prosecution, where symbolic arrests divert attention from larger financial crimes.
- If the government targets only political rivals, it risks eroding trust in institutional justice and democratic accountability.
Implications for Governance and Rule of Law
- The episode reignites debate on elite impunity in Sri Lanka, where political leaders have historically evaded prosecution.
- However, using legal mechanisms as tools of political retaliation threatens the independence of investigative agencies and judiciary.
- Genuine reform would require transparent inquiries, not vendetta-driven arrests.
Conclusion
The arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe is more than a legal episode—it encapsulates Sri Lanka’s battle between populist accountability and politicised justice. The path ahead will test whether Colombo can institutionalise rule of law or remain stuck in a cycle of revenge politics.