Investigations are under way into former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake over his alleged role in facilitating a private visit to the United Kingdom by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe using State funds. Wickremesinghe, now in remand custody, was arrested on Friday (22) by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) under the Offences Against Public Property Act and several clauses of the Penal Code.
DIG Kalinga Jayasinghe, head of the Police Legal Division, revealed at a media briefing yesterday (23) that the probe was launched following a request by the Presidential Secretary on May 23, 2025, after an internal inquiry by the Presidential Secretariat’s Anti-Corruption and Special Investigations Unit. The IGP later assigned the investigation to the CID.
According to the findings, Wickremesinghe travelled to the UK from September 22–23, 2023, to attend a graduation celebration marking his wife’s Honorary Professorship at the University of Wolverhampton. The trip followed his participation in the G77 Summit in Havana and the UN General Assembly in New York earlier that month.
The former President was accompanied by the former First Lady, his Personal Secretary Sandra Perera, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, his personal doctor (a Naval officer), and four members of the Presidential Security Division. However, the official itinerary contained no record of diplomatic engagements, and correspondence between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Secretariat, and the Sri Lankan High Commission in London identified the visit as a personal tour.
DIG Jayasinghe said the Sri Lankan High Commission had sought £40,405 (approximately Rs. 16 million) from State funds for transport, accommodation, food, and other expenses—excluding airfare—for the former President, First Lady, and Private Secretary. Additional funds, including Rs. 3.2 million for the doctor’s expenses, were also allocated.
He declined to comment on whether Ekanayake would be arrested, but confirmed that further investigations are ongoing.
