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Ranil Wickremesinghe

Ranil Wickremesinghe

United National Party (UNP)

INVESTIGATION
Verified 1 Oct 2026

1

Legal matters

1

Investigations

0

Charges pending

0

Acquitted / dismissed

Next in court

11 November 2026

2023 UK trip state funds case

Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

Latest change

No recent Nadu Update

Ranil Wickremesinghe is under investigation.

Alleged misuse of more than Rs. 16.6 million in state funds for a September 2023 UK stopover (about 32 hours, on the way back from Cuba and the US) that investigators characterise as a private visit to attend an honorary-professorship ceremony for his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe, at the University of Wolverhampton. Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake is the second suspect (aiding and abetting).

Read more (1 more paragraph)

The case is under the Offences Against Public Property Act. No indictment has been filed and there is no conviction.

The full running account, event by event, is in the Timeline and Court Cases tabs below.

Ranil Wickremesinghe legal timeline

  1. 11 November 2026

    Next Hearing

    Date fixed on 30 September 2026 for the Attorney General to inform the court of its position on the case.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (2)
  2. 30 September 2026

    Hearing

    The Attorney General told the court the CID investigation was complete and the file was being studied, and said its position would be stated on 11 November 2026. No prosecution decision was announced.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (5)
  3. 8 July 2026

    Hearing

    CID told Magistrate Pasan Amarasena that its investigation was complete and the file had been sent to the Attorney General; the State asked for time to present the AG's position. The defence tendered documents saying the vehicles, about half the disputed sum, were provided by the British Government and sought further inquiry. The case was put off to 30 Sep 2026.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (2)
  4. 29 April 2026

    Hearing

    Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara said the evidence against the first suspect was sufficient to file indictments and directed the Attorney General to file them in the High Court without delay, noting that delayed investigations lose value. The AG undertook to finish remaining inquiries within a month. Defence counsel Tilak Marapana, PC, argued the costs were inflated by the organiser Skywings and the High Commission and that his client bore no responsibility.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (3)
  5. 28 January 2026

    Hearing

    The Attorney General's Department told the court the investigation would be completed within a month and that charges were expected to be filed in March 2026. Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake was remanded the same day as the second suspect (bailed on 18 Feb 2026). The case was put off to 29 Apr 2026.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (3)
  6. 26 August 2025

    Bail Granted

    After four days in remand, he was released on bail (three bail bonds of Rs. 5 million each) on medical grounds while hospitalised; the Attorney General's Department had opposed bail.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (2)
  7. 22 August 2025

    Remanded

    After his arrest by the CID over the alleged misuse of state funds for a 2023 stop-over in London, Ranil Wickremesinghe was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court and remanded until 26 August 2025. The allegation is that expenses for him, his staff and bodyguards on the trip were paid from state funds.

    Court: Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court

    Sources (4)