Former Sri Lankan President Hospitalized After Failing to Last a Night in Detention
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al-Nashra, Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president of Sri Lanka, was taken to hospital after spending his frist night in temporary detention on charges of misappropriating public funds.
Hospital sources reported that the 76-year-old Wickremesinghe is currently in intensive care and requires thorough examination to prevent serious complications. They noted elevated blood sugar and blood pressure levels but described his condition as stable.
Other sources also confirmed that Wickremesinghe was transferred to hospital due to a sudden worsening of his health.
Simultaneously occurring, opponents believe the government is detaining the former president to prevent his return to power.
Wickremesinghe faces allegations that he used public funds for a private trip to London in September 2023.
The 76-year-old politician, who served six terms as prime minister, became president in 2022 amid Sri Lanka’s severe financial crisis. He assumed office following widespread protests that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation.
As leader of the United National Party (UNP), Wickremesinghe lost last year’s presidential election.The leftist Marxist candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake won first place, with Sajith Premadasa finishing second; Wickremesinghe placed third.
Came from a prominent family influential in politics and media, Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed the youngest cabinet minister at age 29 by then-president Junius Jayawardene-his uncle-in 1978. He has led the UNP since 1994.
The former president and seasoned prime minister was arrested Friday by Sri Lanka’s Criminal investigations Department in Colombo.
