Historic first in Sri Lanka: Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested; marking the first time a Ex. head of state has ever been taken into custody.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested Friday after appearing before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo, officials familiar with the matter said.

The arrest is linked to allegations that Wickremesinghe used state funds to cover expenses for a private visit to London, where he attended a university graduation ceremony. Investigators claim the trip, which formed part of a wider overseas tour, was not an official engagement but was financed with government money.

Earlier this month, former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake and former private secretary Sandra Perera were questioned over their roles in arranging the visit.

Wickremesinghe, who served as Sri Lanka’s president from 2022 to 2024, is the most senior political figure to face arrest in recent years. His detention is expected to intensify scrutiny over the use of public funds by top officials.

Court proceedings and formal charges are expected to follow.

210 Years Later: Sri Lanka Witnesses First Arrest of a National Leader Since Monarchy!

In 1815, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha was captured by the British while holding the highest position of power in Sri Lanka. In 2025, nearly 210 years later, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been taken into custody.

During the intervening period, although British Governors, post-1948 Prime Ministers, and post-1978 Presidents with executive powers have all led the country, none of them were ever arrested for any reason.

The arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe marks a historic first in Sri Lanka’s democratic era—the first time a head of state has been detained since the end of the monarchy.

Legal scholars and constitutional experts are now examining the matter in detail. Until then, credit is due to the authorities who acted with such boldness in carrying out the arrest.