Colombo (August 23): Sri Lanka’s former president Ranil Wickremesinghe has been shifted to the prison hospital after a court rejected his bail plea and ordered his remand in custody over charges of misusing state funds during his presidency.
The 76-year-old leader was taken to the Magazine Remand Prison late Friday night following the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order, which remanded him until August 26. Prison officials said Wickremesinghe was admitted to the facility’s hospital due to high blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
The arrest marks a dramatic fall for the veteran politician, who has served multiple terms as prime minister and most recently as president before stepping down in 2024 amid mounting public anger over Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.
Authorities have not disclosed further details on the alleged misuse of public funds, but the case is seen as part of a broader accountability push after years of political and financial turmoil in the island nation.