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Wolverhampton University says it invited Wickremesinghe for graduation ceremony
View(s):- Ex-president undergoes heart surgery; ‘No visitors’ order by his doctors
By Ranjith Padmasiri
The University of Wolverhampton has informed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that it had invited former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to attend the 2023 graduation ceremony at the university, where his wife Maithree Wickramasinghe was conferred an honorary professorship.
The confirmation has been sent in response to a query made by the CID from the university in accordance with an order given by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
The university’s vice-chancellor has also informed the CID’s director that the university is a government-affiliated institution receiving state funding.
The Attorney General’s Department had earlier been making plans to request the information under the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) framework, but the CID had instead sent an email to the university with a series of questions, to which the university has responded.
It is unclear if the CID has informed the Attorney General’s Department and Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who is leading the prosecution, about the emailed response from Wolverhampton University.
The former president is being investigated over the alleged misuse of more than Rs 16.6 million in state funds during what the CID claims was a ‘private visit’ to the UK in 2023 when he was president. Mr Wickremesinghe is accused of having undertaken the visit at state expense to attend the graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton.
Mr Wickremesinghe is currently recuperating in Singapore following cardiac surgery. According to reports, the surgery had taken ‘several hours’ earlier this week. His doctors have advised strict bed rest during the recovery process with only immediate family members permitted to see him.
The CID case against him is scheduled to be taken up again on April 27.
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