Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for treatment. He was hospitalized after his health deteriorated while in custody.
Wickremesinghe is being treated at the National Hospital in Colombo. According to reports, he was transferred to this hospital after doctors at the prison hospital, where he was initially admitted for various health issues, decided he needed specialized care that couldn’t be provided there. Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of Colombo National Hospital, stated that doctors recommended ICU care instead of treatment in the emergency department due to Wickremesinghe’s condition.
Wickremesinghe was arrested on August 22 in connection with a case being investigated by Sri Lanka’s main investigative body, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). On the same day, a court ordered him to be held in custody for four days, until August 26.
Sri Lankan newspapers reported that Wickremesinghe was arrested on suspicion of misusing state property and funds. Reports suggest that the CID is investigating a matter related to a personal trip he made to London, UK, during his term as President. On the morning of his arrest, Wickremesinghe had visited the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of Sri Lanka to provide a statement for the investigation.
According to the CID report submitted to the court, Wickremesinghe traveled to London to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony. The ceremony. The report also alleges that Wickremesinghe spent 16.9 million Sri Lankan rupees (approximately $58,176) of state funds on this trip, which took place in September 2023. The CID report also notes that 10 other individuals accompanied him on this trip. It further states that Wickremesinghe visited London during a trip that included stops in Cuba and the United States.
