The University of Wolverhampton has confirmed that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was officially invited to attend its 2023 graduation ceremony, where his wife, Maithree Wickramasinghe, was awarded an honorary professorship.
According to a report by the The Sunday Times, the university’s Vice Chancellor conveyed this information to Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in response to an official inquiry.
The inquiry relates to a controversial visit to London in 2023 by Mr. Wickremesinghe, during which he is alleged to have spent more than Rs. 16.6 million in public funds. Investigators claim the trip was of a private nature, made as a stopover while returning from the United States.
The CID had sought clarification from the university following an order issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. In its response, the university also noted that it is a government-affiliated institution that receives state funding.
Earlier, the Attorney General’s Department had been considering obtaining the information through the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) framework. However, the CID proceeded by directly emailing the university with a set of questions, to which it has now received a response.
It remains unclear whether the CID has shared this response with the Attorney General’s Department or with Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who is leading the prosecution.
Mr. Wickremesinghe is currently under investigation over the alleged misuse of state funds in connection with the UK visit. Authorities claim the expenses were incurred to attend the graduation ceremony in Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, the former president is reported to be recovering after undergoing a lengthy heart surgery.
