By Jayantha Jayaweera –
Sri Lanka’s former president Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested on allegations of misusing public funds during his tenure in office. His arrest marks the first time a former head of state in the country has been taken into custody, making him the most high-profile political figure currently under investigation for corruption under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government.
Mr. Wickremesinghe has been remanded in custody until a second court hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
A Controversial Backdrop
The move has stirred intense debate, particularly given the history of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the party now in power. During the 1987–1989 insurrection, the JVP was widely held responsible for the killings of members of the defence forces, academics, politicians, artists, and media professionals. The party also launched violent attacks on government institutions and other public assets, while ordering the execution of civilians who refused to follow its directives.
More recently, during the 2022 Aragalaya protest movement, two current government ministers were accused of inciting mobs that attempted to storm and burn down Parliament. That effort was thwarted by swift action taken by Mr. Wickremesinghe, an intervention that many credit with preventing a collapse of Sri Lanka’s democratic framework.
At the height of the Aragalaya unrest, his Ward Place residence was also set ablaze by extremists allegedly linked to the JVP.
A Mixed Legacy
Mr. Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency following the dramatic resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis in decades. His leadership is often credited with stabilising the nation’s economy—bringing down inflation, strengthening the rupee, and rebuilding foreign reserves.
However, his government also implemented stringent austerity measures as part of a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund. These included sharp tax increases and steep rises in utility costs, policies that drew heavy criticism from both the public and opposition parties.
An Unjustified Arrest?
Against this backdrop, the arrest of a former president—particularly one who played a pivotal role in safeguarding democratic institutions during times of upheaval—raises serious questions. While allegations of financial misconduct must be investigated thoroughly, critics argue that detaining Mr. Wickremesinghe, even briefly, sets a troubling precedent.
A more appropriate course, they contend, would have been to demand repayment of the disputed travel expenses rather than pursue punitive detention.
The unfolding case not only tests the government’s commitment to justice but also risks deepening political divisions in an already fragile democracy.
ramona therese fernando / August 24, 2025
That he used public money for a staggeringly expensive independence-day celebrations to stamp his power over a starving people at a time of great economic depression, and that he had no qualms about using public money on any other personal project, shows that he is an incredibly stupid man seeped in megalomaniacy who thought he could get away with anything, including Batalanda sadism, because he had a large crowd of Elite to boost and cheer him on right throughout. Now, finally, the masses have risen to say, “No More!”
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Does he need to go to jail? Considering his age and the Elite set grouping around to support him and create division and discord in the country, it is best he is given permanent house arrest together with the return of the monies he spent, plus huge fines to act as a deterrent so any other person thinking along his lines will think again, and the occurrence of such bizarre behaviour will never occur again.
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davidthegood / August 24, 2025
rtf, robbers don’t give up. They add murder too if they feel pushed hard enough to collect Mula money repeatedly. Your”bizarre behaviour will never occur again” is a mad dream.
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ramona therese fernando / August 24, 2025
Dtg……that’s true.
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Jay the Man / August 24, 2025
RTF I am aware that you are supporting the JVP without being fully informed about their past. As a former member from 1969 until my arrest in May 1971, I can attest that we were indoctrinated by Rohana Wijeweera and his associates at the age of 16. Notably, the JVP pioneered the use of child soldiers in the country, a tactic later adopted by the LTTE twenty years later, who forcibly recruited thousands of minors into their military ranks.
The military strategy employed by the revolutionaries during the April 1971 insurrection was distinct in the history of armed rebellions. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), or the People’s Liberation Front, attempted to seize power by launching simultaneous attacks on police stations across the island. However, the execution was poor, and there were inadequate contingency plans. The insurrection was suppressed within a matter of weeks, resulting in the loss of 30 to 40 thousand young lives. Furthermore, the behavior of hardline detainees within the remand prison was unacceptable, and there was no freedom of speech, even within the prison walls.
After I was released, I couldn’t get a job within the government service or the defence forces. Our young lives were ruined by these so-called revolutionaries.
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ramona therese fernando / August 25, 2025
Jay the Man……don’t blame JVP or LTTE…..blame Ranil and his social circle for hoarding the country money of the hardworking-suffering-Lankan-masses for themselves.
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old codger / August 25, 2025
Ramona,
“don’t blame JVP or LTTE…..blame Ranil and his social circle “
Ranil was 21 at the time. As to his “social circles”, what about those “circles” who did this ?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assassinations_of_the_Second_JVP_Insurrection
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ramona therese fernando / August 26, 2025
OC,….Ranil actually dwelt in the Batalanda housing estate plan. So you can imagine. None of the present JVP/NPP were involved in the killings of desperation by the then JVP, as they were still to young or had not yet born.
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chiv / August 25, 2025
Hope Jay the Man is not the author Jayanthas . J.
I feel bad for your situation after insurrection. But, do you think people are fully informed and aware of the past of Ranil, Rajapaksas, Sira . . . . . .
Do you think our Silly Lankans are well informed in electing and re-electing crooks and criminal, with known history of Crime, Corruption, Underworld nexus, organized political murders, forced disappearance………….
Why single our RTF alone.
Instead being vague, evasive and beating around the bush, the author should name the ministers who incited the mob to burn down the Parliament.
No surprise the defence presented cronies such as the author and Municipal councilor are brief with no real substance.
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RBH59 / August 24, 2025
To apprehend Ranil, the same way Sarath Fonseka was taken?
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ramona therese fernando / August 24, 2025
Bond scam also.
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nancytwins17 / August 25, 2025
Treat him the same way as the courts treated Somapala when he stole a loaf of bread to feed his children in 2022.
RW did nothing special that any other with an ounce of brains would not have done during the 22 crisis for which RW & MR paved the way. He stole this public money at that time, too. In addition, he and his cohorts did not stop stealing public funds.
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Rajash / August 25, 2025
No Sinhala Politician arrested so for July 1983 riots, for Muliivaikaal genocide, for Tamil genocide since 1948, for Easter Bomb, for anti Muslim violence through out the years , for anti Tamil violence through out the years, for killing of prominent journalists(too many to list) etc etc . but arrest a Politician having a bottle of champagne and caviar in a posh London Hotel at Tax payers money( I agree it’s illegal) and make a big drama out of it.
AKD if you have guts I challenge you to go for the bigger sharks.!
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Roxie de Abrew / August 25, 2025
Dear Rajash,
You are free to worship your Sun God and his deeds, MAINLY AGAINST THE TAMIL COMMUNITY and a little bit on our Sihala brethren, please continue your worship.
The day you admit the SUN GOD wrecked the Tamil Community under the pretext of saving them from the Singhala, you will be a normal person.
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Roxie de Abrew / August 25, 2025
Hi Jayantha,
I agree with you.
If RW did not put up his hand for the Big Chair after the disappearance of strongman GR, the nation would have become lawless (the South Sudan of SE Asia).
Leaders wearing tight trousers (with jutting genitalia) sitting now high chairs, had vanquished during those critical moments in history.
HE RW went to the US & Cuba for official functions as a HoS. On his way back, he stopped in the UK for a day (see link below) for a function at Wolverhampton University to facilitate the late Lord Swaraj Paul, who was the Chancellor of the University for over 25 years.
The MODA CID failed to investigate this case properly in a professional manner. They work under intense political pressure to produce drama to capture the masses. They do so for the Easter massacre, Bond Scam etc.
As long as they are leading the CID, justice in our Nation is a Bloody joke.
https://uk.blitzindiamedia.com/celebrates-lord-swraj-pauls-25th-anniversary-as-chancellor/
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / August 25, 2025
Blind loyalty to a high-class conman who cared not a whit for the law demonstrates rank bias and partisan attitudes. Justice is blind, in that they do not consider personalities or class or wealth or status. All are equal before the law. This fellow should also be tried for the Batalanda torture and death camps, arson, central bank heist and extravagance costing billions from the public purse. Let the fellow suffer for his crimes. Mere penalties are not punishment, as stolen funds of crony criminals will be used to pay fines. He should realize that the country cannot wait till 2048 while he fools the people with fake Caucasian Chalk Circle analogies. Bertolt Brescht would turn in his grave to know his works were being abused.
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