Sri Lankan Opposition Criticizes Arrest of Ex-President as Political Revenge
Opposition decries ex-president’s arrest as undemocratic vengeance.
Sri Lankan opposition parties united in Colombo to denounce the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, labeling it a “petty act of political vengeance” and a violation of the country’s democratic principles. The 76-year-old former leader was arrested on Friday, August 22, 2025, over allegations of misusing state funds during his presidency, sparking widespread controversy and protests from opposition leaders and supporters.
The arrest, executed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), centers on claims that Wickremesinghe misused public funds for a private trip to London in 2023 to attend his wife’s honorary professorship ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton. Charged under Sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code and Section 5(1) of the Public Properties Act, Wickremesinghe faces potential imprisonment of one to 20 years. The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court remanded him until August 26, 2025, after rejecting his bail application, citing insufficient grounds presented by his defense team.
At a joint press conference in Colombo, opposition leaders, including former President Maithripala Sirisena (2015–2019), condemned the arrest as an attack on Sri Lanka’s democratic traditions. “Our country is used to very open democratic practices,” Sirisena said. “These sorts of actions go against those basic principles.” Sagara Kariyawasam, general secretary of the Sri Lanka People’s Front (SLPP), echoed this sentiment, stating that while his party disagrees with Wickremesinghe’s politics, “we have to oppose this act of attempting to silence opposition through intimidation by the state.”
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The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, defended the arrest, asserting that “the law applies equally to everyone.” At a separate media briefing, NPP lawyers criticized the opposition’s response as “selective public outrage” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption, a key promise of Dissanayake’s 2024 election campaign. President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma emphasized that the court’s decision was not politically motivated, while Attorney Jayantha Dehiattage noted the absence of widespread public unrest over the arrest, suggesting public support for equal application of the law.
Wickremesinghe’s health has added urgency to the controversy. After his arrest, he was initially taken to Magazine Remand Prison, where high blood sugar and blood pressure levels led to his admission to the prison hospital. By Saturday, August 23, 2025, his condition worsened, and he was transferred to the intensive care unit of Colombo National Hospital due to severe dehydration sustained during a 10-hour court appearance. Dr. Rukshan Bellana, the hospital director, stated that Wickremesinghe requires at least three more days in the ICU, ruling out his scheduled court appearance on Tuesday. “Someone in the ICU cannot attend court,” Bellana added.
The arrest has drawn international attention, with Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling the charges “trivial” and urging Sri Lanka to “abjure the politics of vengeance” and treat Wickremesinghe with dignity. Senior Sri Lankan journalist S Venkat Narayan also described the arrest as “ridiculous,” suggesting India could offer medical assistance if needed.
Wickremesinghe, who served as president from 2022 to 2024, is credited with stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy after a devastating crisis that forced his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to resign. Despite his role in securing a $2.9 billion IMF bailout, his austerity measures sparked public discontent, contributing to his loss in the 2024 presidential election. The opposition’s unified stance, including support from figures like former Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris and Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan, signals a broader concern about the NPP government’s approach to dissent, with some warning of a slide toward “constitutional dictatorship.”
As Wickremesinghe remains under medical supervision, the controversy surrounding his arrest continues to polarize Sri Lanka’s political landscape, raising questions about justice, democracy, and the rule of law.
