Court rules former President’s visit was private, not official

22 August 2025 11:11 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 15 Bookmark

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By Bhagya Silva

Considering the submissions presented, the Fort Magistrate stated that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit in question was not an official trip but a private one.

She further noted that the documents submitted today by the former President to the Criminal Investigation Department should be examined after a detailed investigation.

Accordingly, based on the submissions presented today, it was confirmed that the visit did not constitute an official invitation.

As the visit is considered private, it falls under the provisions of the Public Property Act. Since no irregularities under Section 8(1) of the Public Property (Special Provisions) Act No. 12 of 1982 were established, the suspect was remanded in custody.

The court also observed that the suspect’s health condition is reportedly stable. No medical report regarding the current health status was presented to court today. The Magistrate directed that appropriate medical documentation be submitted on the next hearing date to confirm the suspect’s health.

Additionally, the Magistrate clarified that the arguments made by the suspect’s counsel, referring to actions taken while serving as the eighth Executive President, were not relevant to the bail request.

Comments - 15

Yohan Friday, 22 August 2025 11:32 PM

So if any president is invited for an overseas trip, he cannot get any security either from the government according to this theory. So who takes the responsibility, if someone assasinate him during the tour or kidnap him and demand various stuff from him. President is a key figure in a government and he should be protected during his tenure for both official and prvt trips. Also this theory can backfire current one too. Akd visited local party rallys but they are not official government functions. So he has wasted public money for security and he should get similar sentence right.

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Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 23 August 2025 04:36 PM

In case of AKD the expenses were probably paid by the LTTE diaspora as he has said that such trips cost only Rs 100 for the taxpayers.

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Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 23 August 2025 11:20 PM

Democratic Law is not applicable to JVP as they are above the law. They follow Carl Marx law.

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M Fernando Sunday, 24 August 2025 06:07 AM

What ???

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Rip Winkle Friday, 22 August 2025 11:49 PM

" ... the Magistrate clarified that the arguments made by the suspect’s counsel, referring to actions taken while serving as the eighth Executive President, were not relevant to the bail request" I hope this observation/statement shuts up those who foolishly talk about Ranil's leadership in getting IMF assistance as if that should allow him to misuse public money.

12 8

james Saturday, 23 August 2025 01:30 AM

Once you become president, you cant distinguish private vs official visit. Any private visit could turn into an official visit if the president ends up giving a speech as president or gets called into a high level security meeting. After all he is representing the presidency of Sri Lanka in this event. Courts should not get into nit picking the president at this level otherwise AKD's joy rides to his village while visiting Anuradhapura temples as official visits is in question. He just stops there on the way since Thabuthegama is one the way. Even US Presidents gets Air Force one plane and security visit anywhere in the world even for vacation.

2 14

Ram P Saturday, 23 August 2025 04:46 AM

Good fair decision. The senior counsel who represented the suspect should have been ready with the suspec's medical record if any, and that is a huge lapse on the part of counsel. Even if produced that would not change the decision

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Joshua Saturday, 23 August 2025 09:03 AM

Good llesson.all good deals done is not relevant. All good things are undone by these robbery of taxpayers hard earned money.

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Rathnavali Saturday, 23 August 2025 10:26 AM

Now please watch where AKD and his Ministers go when travelling abroad on purportedly official work. If they use official vehicles and body guards for shopping or visiting friends or party work, then when they return and, for the President after his term is over (which happens invariably), they will be charged for misusing public property! We can see many such charges against the present lot in time to come. AKD has already caused a serious breach in using an Air Force helicopter to visit his sick mother in Thabuttegama and bringing her to Lanka Hospital in Colombo. Sad, but Karma is like a wheel which keeps turning and what you throw at others will someday come back to you.

2 14

Dr Tissa Fernando Saturday, 23 August 2025 04:39 PM

Still pending are justice for 88 89 murder victims, property owners, public offers, by JVP.

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Justice or Political Weapon Saturday, 23 August 2025 12:13 PM

State resources and security are inseparable from high office. If a president is prosecuted for this, then the same principle must apply to all top government officials who also use state property for private purposes, irrespective of the nature of use. Selective use of the Public Property Act makes the law a political weapon, not justice.

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Law, not Politics Saturday, 23 August 2025 12:19 PM

The Public Property Act must be applied impartially, not as a tool for political targeting. Selective use undermines the Rule of Law and the principles of justice in our country as enshrined in the Constitution.

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Punchi Saturday, 23 August 2025 02:36 PM

Compliant courts delivering pre determined verdicts

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Sambo Saturday, 23 August 2025 07:53 PM

In every speech he gave he wanted the public to tighten their belts but he had the best in life on the poor people's account. No shame.

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Adwani Saturday, 23 August 2025 08:35 PM

The invitation letter addressed to Ranil as President of SL, if it is private matter it should have been addressed to Ranil as Mr. Ranil. The verdict is confusing to the public??????

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