Watch: Ex-President Ranil brought to court after arrest

In a significant development, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and brought to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. He was escorted to the court under heavy security by CID officers.

Arrest and Investigation Wickremesinghe was arrested earlier today after he arrived at the CID headquarters to provide a statement regarding an ongoing investigation. The inquiry centers on allegations that he used state funds for a trip to London while he was president to attend his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe's, graduation ceremony.

Prior Developments The CID had previously presented evidence related to this case to the Fort Magistrate's Court on June 24. Since then, statements were recorded from two key officials who served under the former president: his private secretary, Sandra Perera, and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake.

Wickremesinghe's arrest followed the recording of his statement at the CID headquarters, where he had arrived around 9 a.m. today.