CID completes probe into alleged state funds misuse by Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe

AG’s stance on case due on September 30   

By Bhagya Silva   

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today ordered that the case filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, who were produced before court over allegations of misuse of state funds, be taken up on September 30 to inform the court of the Attorney General’s position on the legal action to be taken.   

Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department informed court that investigations into the incident had been completed and that the relevant files had been forwarded to the Attorney General for advice.   

Senior State Counsel Samadari Piyasena, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, told court that the investigations had been concluded and the case file had been submitted to the Attorney General. She requested a date to inform court of the Attorney General’s stance.   

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne, appearing for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, informed court that investigators had stated that nearly half of the total amount involved in the case had been spent on vehicles.   

“However, the vehicles used by my client were provided by the British Government. I have handed over documents relating to the steps taken by the British Government in this regard to the State Counsel and request that a further investigation be conducted into this matter,” President’s Counsel told court.   

Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that the case be recalled on September 30.   

The Magistrate directed the State Counsel to inform court of the Attorney General’s position on that date.   

The CID had produced former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his former Secretary Saman Ekanayake before court over allegations that they had misused more than Rs. 16.6 million in state funds by spending the money on a private visit to the United Kingdom in 2023 to attend the graduation ceremony of the former President’s wife.