News
Court orders CID to verify invitation sent to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe for UK trip
View(s):By Ranjith Pathmasiri
Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera told the Colombo Fort Magistrate that the Attorney General’s Department will seek the assistance of the United Kingdom under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters to verify the authenticity of the invitation extended to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to attend the graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where his wife Maithree Wickramasinghe was awarded an honorary doctorate.
Making submissions at the hearing into the case filed against the former President under the Public Property Act, Mr Perera said that copies of the invitation produced by Mr Wickremesinghe are not available in the records of the either the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.
As part of the investigation, a statement is due to be recorded from former High Commissioner in the UK Saroja Sirisena who now resides in London.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris said former President Wickremesinghe spent more funds on the two day visit to the UK than he had earned during two years as President.
Tilak Marapana, PC, Counsel for the former president said that the CID had failed to verify the necessary information from the UK authorities and suggested that they visit the country and carry out the investigations while also taking a holiday there.
The case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Nethkumara.
Given the large presence of lawyers inside the courtroom when the case was taken up, the magistrate warned against any disturbances when the case was being heard, and at the conclusion of the hearing, thanked everyone for their cooperation to ensure that the proceedings were conducted smoothly.
He also directed the CID to ascertain the necessary documents be verified regarding the invitation sent to the former president and produce them in court.
The case will resume on January 28, 2026. The Magistrate ordered that the CID complete the investigations and produce all suspects in court at the next hearing.
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