Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe has been apprehended following allegations of misappropriating public funds linked to his foreign trips while in office, as confirmed by police authorities. This arrest stems from a specific incident during a stopover in the UK in 2023, where he was reportedly in attendance for a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton after participating in a G77 summit in Cuba.

Wickremesinghe, who presided over the nation from 2022 to 2024 amid a severe economic crisis that led to the exile of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to present himself in Colombo's magistrates court on Friday. Earlier in the day, he provided a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), which is spearheading the inquiry into the claims.

During his presidency, the 76-year-old politician undertook 23 international trips, accumulating costs exceeding Rs 600 million (approximately $2 million or £1.4 million). While the CID alleges that his stopover in the UK was an improper use of state resources for a private affair, Wickremesinghe firmly refutes these allegations, asserting the legitimacy of his travel expenses.

As details continue to emerge about this developing situation, the political landscape in Sri Lanka remains tumultuous. Observers will be watching closely as the case unfolds in court and its potential implications for the country's governance and political integrity.