Sri Lankan court grants bail to former president Wickremesinghe in corruption case

A Sri Lankan court on Tuesday granted bail to former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was in remand custody over allegations of misusing public funds.

Wickremesinghe joined the proceedings virtually from the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital, amid tight security and protests outside the court premises.

The hearing, presided over by Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura, was conducted through Zoom.

The former president was arrested on Friday last week by the police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He was taken to the main Magazine Remand prison close to midnight on Friday after the Colombo Fort magistrate’s court remanded him till August 26.

Initially admitted to the prison hospital, Wickremesinghe was later transferred to the National Hospital ICU after his health deteriorated due to dehydration.

Wickremesinghe has been accused of misusing LKR 16.6 million to fund a private visit to the UK in 2023, where he attended his wife Maithree’s university convocation. He has denied the allegation, insisting that the trip was official as the invitation was extended to the President of Sri Lanka in his capacity as head of state.