Opposition parties have begun reaching out to Colombo’s diplomatic community following the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Daily Mirror learns.
A delegation consisting of UNP General Secretary Talatha Athukorale, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, and former State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene has already met with the heads of diplomatic missions representing the United States, China, and India to brief them on the situation.
Wickremesinghe, currently in remand custody, is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate today. The opposition insists that the charges against him are “trivial” and warns that such actions could have a chilling impact on democratic values.
Concerns have also been raised internationally. Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in a post on X, urged the Sri Lankan government to “abjure the politics of vengeance” and treat the former President with dignity. He expressed particular concern over Wickremesinghe’s health, noting his admission to the prison hospital shortly after his arrest.
Former Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim also called for Wickremesinghe’s immediate release, stressing that the accusations lack substance. He praised Wickremesinghe’s role during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic and political crisis, while adding that even if the allegations were true, they would not constitute criminal conduct in Europe.
