A five-member team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has travelled to the United Kingdom to examine the authenticity of an invitation letter reportedly issued by the University of Wolverhampton to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The trip, however, has reportedly taken place without the Attorney General’s Department’s knowledge or authorisation, according to the Sunday Times.
The newspaper revealed that senior officials at the AG’s Department were not informed about the CID delegation’s plans and that no guidance had been requested from the AG before the officers left the country. The delegation, headed by a Deputy Inspector General and comprising an Assistant Superintendent of Police, a Chief Inspector, and two junior officers, departed earlier this week for a five-day mission.
Sources within the AG’s Department said that top officials, including Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, and Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera, were unaware that CID personnel were being dispatched to London. They noted that the decision to proceed with the visit had been taken solely by CID leadership.
During their stay, the officers are expected to obtain a statement from former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Saroja Sirisena. She held the post in September 2023, when Mr. Wickremesinghe—then serving as President—travelled to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremasinghe, received an honorary professorship. Ms. Sirisena, who remains in the UK, has been asked to appear at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London to provide her statement.
Mr. Wickremesinghe faces allegations of misappropriating Rs. 16.6 million in public funds for what investigators claim was a private two-day visit. He was arrested in August in connection with the inquiry, briefly remanded, and later released on bail.
