Ranil’s Counsel wants probe on accounts provided by SL mission in UK

The Counsel appearing for former President Ranil Wickremesighe in the case of the alleged misuse of more than Rs. 16.6 million in state funds today urged courts to order a full investigation into the accounts provided by Sri Lanka’s High Commission in UK.

They made the request when the case against Mr Wickremesinghe and Mr Saman Ekanayake, the former Secretary to the former President was taken up before Fort Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara.

The Counsel Tilak Marapana, PC told courts that the expenses given by the High Commission appeared to be excessive and included a charge of Rs 3.5 million for the vehicles, despite Mr Wickremesinghe not using any of them.

Mr Kalinga Indatissa, PC appearing for Mr Ekanayake, however, said that his client had made the payments on audited accounts.

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, where his wife, Maithree Wickramasinghe, was conferred an honorary professorship.

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who is leading the prosecution, at the beginning of the case informed the courts that they had recorded the statement of the former President’s wife, Maithree Wickremasinghe and they were considering whether she could be considered as an accused.

However, the Magistrate said that of the available statement it appears that she cannot be considered as an accused.

The Magistrate said that the investigations should be concluded soon as possible and the court should be informed on the next date whether indictments are being filed against the accused.

The next hearing of the case was fixed for July 8.