Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the arrest of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday (August 24, 2025), appealing to the island country’s government to leave the politics of vengeance and to treat his former President with respect and dignity.

Wickremesinghe (76) was taken to the main magazine remand jail around midnight on Friday after being sent to custody by the court of ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate’ by 26 August. He was transferred to the intensive medical unit (ICU) of Colombo National Hospital on Saturday.

Congress leader urges Sri Lanka government

Tharoor wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, ‘I am worried about being detained in allegations of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe appearing minor. Due to his health problems, he has already been taken to the jail hospital.

Congress leader Tharoor said, “I respect the Sri Lankan government, respecting the politics of vengeance, with the honor and dignity with his former President with the honor and dignity,” Congress leader Tharoor said.

Know what is the whole matter?

Jail spokesperson Jagat Veerasinghe said on Saturday (August 24, 2025) that Wickremesinghe was admitted to the jail hospital, as he had high blood sugar and blood pressure levels. The former President was arrested on Friday at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, where he was called to record a statement regarding the alleged misuse of government funds of 1.66 crore Sri Lankan rupees.

After this, Wickramasinghe was produced in the court of Colombo Fort Magistrate. The CID has accused him under sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code and Section 5 (1) of the Public Property Act. There is a provision for at least one year and maximum 20 years jail sentence in these allegations.

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Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested on charges of corruption. According to a report by news agency AFP, Wickremesinghe was detained after questioning about a visit to London to attend a function held in September 2023 in honor of his wife.

According to the report, an authority said that he will be presented before the Colombo Fort Magistrate. He further said that Wickramasinghe has been accused of using the country’s resources for personal purposes.

Why was Wickramasinghe arrested?

Ranil Wickramasinghe stayed in London while returning from Havana in 2023, where he attended the G-77 summit. Wickramasinghe and his wife Maitri attended a function at the University of Wolverhampton. Wickramasinghe had said that his wife had taken up the expenses of her journey on her own and the government’s money was not used in it.

Police alleged that Wickramasinghe used government money for a private visit. According to the police, it was found in the investigation that the bodyguard of Ranil Wickramasinghe was also paid from the treasury of the government. Wickremesinghe reached the CID office to record his statement on the same case where he was arrested.

The President of Sri Lanka was made three years ago

Wickramasinghe took over the presidency in July 2022 to complete the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. There was a protest against Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka against the allegation of corruption, due to which Rajapaksa had to resign. Wickramasinghe is credited with stabilizing the country’s economy after Sri Lanka’s worst financial crisis in 2022, but he lost the election again in September.

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