Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today, marking the first time a former head of state has been arrested in Sri Lanka.
Wickremesinghe, who was arrested after recording a statement with the CID this morning, is due to be presented in court shortly.Â
He was summoned before the CID with regard to an ongoing probe into an overseas visit to London that investigators say included private events but was financed by state funds.Â
Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have visited New York and later the United Kingdom, where he attended a university graduation ceremony in London, during his presidency.Â
According to the CID, the London part of the travel had cost the government around Rs. 16.9 million.Â
Earlier this month, investigators questioned former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake and former private secretary Sandra Perera as part of the inquiry. (Islandnews)
