Former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday in connection with allegations of misuse of state funds, local television channel Ada Derana reported.
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Wickremesinghe, 76, was taken into custody after arriving at the CID office in the capital, Colombo, to record a statement in an investigation into his visit to London to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony, the report said.
Wickremesinghe claims that his wife’s travel expenses were paid by her and that no state funds were used.
However, the CID alleges that Wickremesinghe used government money for his travel on a private visit and that his bodyguards were also paid by the state.
A Sri Lankan police spokesperson did not immediately confirm the arrest. Wickremesinghe’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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He was due to appear in court later on Friday, local media reported.
Wickremesinghe is the first Sri Lankan former head of state to be arrested.