ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s arrest and remand over alleged mis-use of public funds has drawn criticism together with from his rivals as a calculated political act designed to humiliate the ex-leader on flimsy fees and intimidate the democratic opposition.
Wickremesinghe was arrested over using state funds for himself and his workers throughout a stop-over within the UK the place he attended the award of an honorary professorship to his spouse, whereas coming back from the UN Basic Meeting within the US in 2023.
His arrest on Friday was pointless for the investigation besides as a tactic to humiliate him and intimidate the opposition, activists stated Sunday drawing consideration to a youtuber who had predicted the sequence of occasions.
“The actual circumstances surrounding the arrest of former President Ranil Wickemesinghe in a scenario the place the investigation is nearly full, give rise to grave concern with regard to the energy of fundamental democratic establishments in our nation,” ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga stated in a press release.
“What we’re witnessing is a calculated onslaught on the very essence of our democratic values.
“The implications of this go far past the destiny of a person or any political grouping and contain peril for the rights of our society as an entire.”
Wickremesinghe was arrested on the tail finish of the investigation the place on the admission of the state itself statements had been recorded from 33 witnesses over a number of months and it was already in proof former Minister G L Pieris stated.
“Consequently, there isn’t any chance in any respect that Ranil Wickremesinghe will have the ability to intimidate the witnesses or tamper with the proof as a result of that proof is already within the fingers of the prosecution,” Peiris stated.
“There may be completely no prospect of Rane Vikram Singh absconding when he’s required for trial. He’s a former President of Sri Lanka, very energetic within the political lifetime of the nation.
“And when he’s required in courtroom, he will definitely flip up in courtroom. There is no such thing as a must arrest him.”
Police might have both introduced the proceedings towards Wickremesinghe after finishing the investigation, he stated.
“Alternatively, the police can ship a file to the Legal professional Basic for consideration by the Legal professional Basic whether or not an indictment ought to exit within the Excessive Court docket,” Pieris stated.
“Neither of these programs of motion necessitates an arrest.”
Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake instructed reporters that the present administration had a mandate to behave towards a corrupt political system.
“There was a bunch of people that thought they had been above the legislation, there nonetheless is, the previous established political system,” Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake stated.
“Immediately the legislation is working towards them.”
Based mostly on information studies on the time in an Indian publication, President Wickremesinghe had not solely attended the ceremony the place his spouse was given an affiliate professorship on the College of Wolverhampton but additionally a lunch in honour of a longstanding chancellor because the President of Sri Lanka, Pieris stated.
Former Minister Patali Ranawaka, who served beneath Wickremesinghe as a minister, however broke-away later, stated bringing fees towards Wickremesinghe utilizing the Public Property Act by a authorities during which the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna was concerned was a travesty.
“The JVP which had destroyed large quantities of public property through the 1987-89 and in 2022 additionally deliberate to assault the parliament, taking motion towards an ex-President beneath the Public Property Act is a historic joke,” he stated.
“This can be a plan to arrange a one-party state on this nation. Folks can have a division based mostly on political ideologies, however anybody who values multi-party democracy should get collectively.”
The costs towards Wickremesinghe, particularly the price of his workers together with safety element being termed non-public expenditure, was questionable, a number of activists stated.
If the President goes for a non-public perform akin to a marriage or different perform, his safety must be assured as being on account of his workplace, a number of opposition members stated.
“If motion was taken on the bondscam folks wouldn’t protest like this immediately,” opposition member Mano Ganeshan stated.
“So, the President can’t go on a non-public go to. He can’t see buddies for five years. Ought to he get off from the airport and go in a taxi?”
“I’m telling the incumbent President additionally to have a robust safety. That isn’t a privilege. It’s vital. Because the Tamil Progressive Alliance, we condemn this act.”
Opposition activists additionally stated the foretelling of Wickremesinghe’s arrest and remand by a youtuber confirmed that it was a premeditated act.
“The way in which during which this has occurred and the way which reveals the sample of occasions that occurred previous to it and thereafter, we’re fairly satisfied this was designed to humiliate him,” opposition legislator Rauf Hakeem stated.
“And we’ll fastidiously observe this and we’ll present that the opposition won’t lose our resolve.”
Ex-President Maithriapala Sirisena, who as soon as sacked Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, stated democracy was one thing that was deeply ingrained in Sri Lanka.
Underneath him amendments had been delivered to the structure to strengthen democratic freedom.
“Sri Lanka and India had been the one two nations in South Asia that had democratic rule with no break,” Sirisena stated.
“What may be seen is that some points of a democratic society are being undermined. The planks for the coffin to bury democracy are being planed, is what we are able to see.
“If we see that democracy is being undermined or it’s being challenged it’s our obligation to get collectively.”
Sirisena was talking at a press convention the place the principle opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya was absent as a celebration. (Colombo/Aug24/2025)
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