Ranil’s misuse of public funds case put off to 11 Nov. pending AG’s advice

Thursday, 1 October 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday fixed 11 November for the next hearing of the case against Ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, pending the Attorney General’s advice.

The case, filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), concerns the alleged misuse of about Rs. 16.9 million in public funds. The money relates to Wickremesinghe’s attendance at his wife’s graduation ceremony in London during an official visit to the US and the UK in late 2023.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena issued the order after considering the progress of the investigations. Both Wickremesinghe and Ekanayake were present in court.

The CID arrested Wickremesinghe on 22 August, 2025, and he was remanded until 26 August, the first time a former Sri Lankan head of state had been placed in remand custody. He was later released on three personal bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each after medical reports were submitted.