-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -25.Aug.2025, 8.25 PM) Sri Lanka’s political theatre took a dramatic turn last week as former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was remanded until 26 August on charges of criminal misappropriation and breach of trust under Sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code, alongside allegations under Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act, a statute designed to shield State assets from plunder.
It was a moment of judicial history: the first time a former President has been taken into custody. But rather than sober reflection on accountability, Colombo has been treated to a chorus of opposition outrage and international hand-wringing, as if the rule of law were some distant inconvenience.
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rushed to denounce the arrest, holding a joint press conference in which they accused the Government of pursuing “constitutional dictatorship.” In a statement, the party warned of “a one-party State,” pointing to restrictions on Local Government funding and unions as proof of authoritarian drift.
Yet the SJB’s moral indignation rang hollow. Its leader Sajith Premadasa still faces awkward questions about alleged irregularities involving the Central Cultural Fund. Several of his fellow travellers in Opposition are likewise under scrutiny: Mahinda Rajapaksa for presiding over an era of grand larceny, Nimal Siripala de Silva for airport bribery scandals, and Patali Champika Ranawaka for his own murky record of sectarian politics.
The irony of politicians with closets full of skeletons condemning the jailing of one of their own was not lost on observers.
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga lent her voice to the campaign, declaring “unreserved opposition” to Wickremesinghe’s arrest. In her statement she warned of “a calculated onslaught on democracy,” apparently forgetting that under her own watch the Bindunuwewa massacre took place, where unarmed Tamil youths in rehabilitation were murdered.
Her selective memory was rivalled only by G.L. Peiris, once Wickremesinghe’s fiercest critic over the Central Bank bond scam, who now argued the arrest was politically motivated—while insisting Wickremesinghe’s 2023 trip to the UK was an “official” one, though neither Colombo nor London ever treated it as such.
From outside Sri Lanka, the chorus swelled.
Shashi Tharoor, Indian Congress MP, posted on X that Ranil’s detention was “on the face of it trivial,” and urged Colombo to “abjure the politics of vengeance.” Congress Politician not familiar with Sri Lankan Juduciary, better to keep his mouth quite, rather showing off his Broken English voculbury in Kerela acsent.
Erik Solheim, the Norwegian peace negotiator of yesteryear, who also investigated by UN for misuse of travel allownaces, went further, demanding “urgent release” and insisting the charges “would not constitute any criminal behaviour in Europe.” Erik Solheim failed negotiater as far as Sri lankans are concerend, who enjoyed the VIP treatment during the Ranil’s Presidentcy, trying to be nice to his “ Boys club” Friend Ranil with issuing a strong mesage with a Norwegian tone, but forget to mentioned, Ranil was arrested for crime under the Sri Lankan legislation, so Erik Solheim mind your business, not involving into another Soveriegn countires internal matter?
It was a curious defence. That the misappropriation of public property might not offend Scandinavian sensibilities is hardly a standard for Sri Lankan courts bound by their own laws.
Even from the Maldives, former President Mohamed Nasheed chimed in, tweeting solidarity with his old ally Ranil.
Critics note that many of those weeping loudest for Wickremesinghe are themselves men of dubious record.
Namal Rajapaksa, scion of the Rajapaksa dynasty, accused the Government of “political revenge”—an extraordinary claim from a man whose family ruled like monarchs and is accused of looting billions. Namal’s law qualification, even his UK degree and entire property portfolio under scrunity by Bribery commision under the NPP government.
Maithripala Sirisena, who once derided Wickremesinghe as a “butterfly” and blamed him for the bond scam, now warns of rights violations.
Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganesan and Dayasiri Jayasekara, Champika Ranawaka, joined the line-up with most corrupted Politicians of “so called”Opposition group, who has very public support, but thundering against “dictatorship,” though their own records remain under the microscope, as these poliicans were acted as Dictators, attacked Unions members in 1980’s general strike, , involved in 1983 riots againsts Tamils, participated in 1988-1991 brutal killings of the student’s movements, and laughed during the press conference held after the Easter Sunday, and picked on Muslims during the Covid time, forced Muslims to cremate their loved ones death bodies.
For many Sri Lankans, this spectacle resembles a rogues’ gallery of politicians protecting one of their own, fearful that judicial spotlight may soon sweep in their direction.
For now, Wickremesinghe remains in hospital custody, having been transferred from prison to Colombo National Hospital after elevated blood pressure. Whether this represents a genuine health crisis or the familiar resort of politicians facing the dock is a matter of debate.
The larger issue is whether Sri Lanka’s judiciary will withstand political and diplomatic pressure. The Government has promised a clean-up of politics—an agenda popular with a weary public that has seen too many politicians escape justice. Wickremesinghe’s arrest marks a precedent, but it will only have meaning if the law is applied consistently, not selectively.
As one Colombo lawyer remarked drily: “If crocodile tears could wash away guilt, our jails would be empty.”
-By A Special Correspondent
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by (2025-08-25 14:55:11)
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