CID Summons Ex-Presidential Secretary Over Ranil’s UK Trip

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has been summoned this morning to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with an ongoing probe into a controversial overseas trip allegedly undertaken by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe using public funds.

The investigation, communicated to the court via a B report in late June, centers around claims that Wickremesinghe used approximately Rs. 16.9 million in state funds to travel to the United Kingdom in September 2023. 

The trip, reportedly for his wife’s graduation ceremony, is said to have included a delegation of ten individuals.

According to a B-report submitted by the CID to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, the former President had been on official visits to Cuba and the United States at the time. 

However, he is alleged to have diverted to the UK from the U.S. to attend the private event.

It is reported that the former President was accompanied by 9 others during this visit that took place on the 22nd and 23rd of September.

In a related development, Sandra Perera, who served as Wickremesinghe’s privatre secretary, was questioned by CID officials for over six hours yesterday (4).