Former minister Prof. G.L. Peiris stated that there was no necessity to arrest former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as he continues to be actively involved in politics and has no reason to abscond.
At a press conference held today morning, Prof. Peiris emphasized that bribery and corruption must indeed be eradicated, but whether a person is guilty or innocent should be decided by the courts after due process. “If a former President is under investigation, no one would believe that he would abscond. There is no need to arrest him merely for the sake of an investigation,” he said.
He further noted that the prosecution has already listed 33 witnesses and all relevant records are in their custody, leaving no possibility of interference by Mr. Wickremesinghe. Prof. Peiris questioned the purpose of arresting an individual under such circumstances when proper investigations can proceed without detention.
Citing an example, he recalled events in Wolverhampton, UK, on 15 October 2023, when Mr. Wickremesinghe attended two functions: the 15th anniversary celebratory lunch for Lord Swaraj Paul and a convocation ceremony of the University of Wolverhampton. Prof. Peiris stressed that Mr. Wickremesinghe participated not in a private capacity but as the incumbent President of Sri Lanka at the time. “These events were official in nature, and security attaches should have considered them accordingly,” he added.
Prof. Peiris concluded that, in light of the available evidence and the progress of investigations, arresting the former President is unnecessary and unwarranted.
