Sri Lanka detains former President Wickremesinghe on corruption charges

The 76-year-old leader was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department over allegations of misusing public funds during a 2023 trip to the U.K. Authorities say state money covered his travel and security expenses for what they describe as a private visit.

Wickremesinghe, who maintains that his wife paid her own way and no public funds were misused, was initially admitted to the Prison Hospital and later transferred to the National Hospital’s ICU for dehydration. He has been remanded under the Public Property Act until August 26 and is due to appear before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court this afternoon.