Ranil's Bail Battle : Health Issues vs Public Accountability

COLOMBO (News 1st); Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, presenting the suspect former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to court, stated that the suspect had engaged in a private visit on September 22 and 23, 2023, using Rs. 16.6 million of public funds.

Extraction: “Your Honour, after obtaining statements from approximately 33 witnesses, the eighth Executive President of this country is being presented to court based on substantial evidence. From September 13 to 20, 2023, he was on an official visit to Cuba and the United States. Ten individuals, including officials from the Presidential Secretariat and the Police, participated in this visit. However, he then traveled to the United Kingdom to attend the honorary degree convocation of his wife at Wolverhampton University. The convocation was held on the 22nd and 23rd, and Rs. 16.6 million of public funds were spent on this visit.”

The Additional Solicitor General stated that documents initially describing the visit as a private one were later altered to present it as an official visit, suggesting that someone had changed the records.

Extraction: “This investigation first received documents on August 16, 2023. Those documents clearly stated that the visit was a private one. Later, between November 12 and December 11, 2023, several other documents were received, which described the visit simply as a ‘visit.’ It was only after the trip had concluded that the documents were changed to present it as an official visit. This clearly indicates that the documents were fabricated. Someone had altered them.”

The Additional Solicitor General also clarified how the funds were spent for the visit.

Extraction: “While several fundamental rights petitions were being heard before the Supreme Court, claiming the country was bankrupt, the suspect—who was the President at the time—undertook this visit, spending Rs. 16.6 million of public funds. Of this amount, Rs. 4.5 million was spent on vehicle rentals, Rs. 300,000 on food and beverages, Rs. 3.4 million on accommodation, £600 for guest expenses, and Rs. 4.6 million on vehicles. However, Your Honour, Rs. 13.2 million was provided by the Presidential Secretariat, and Rs. 3.2 million by the Sri Lanka Police and Navy. This is how the total Rs. 16.6 million was allocated. After completing the official visit to Cuba and the United States, he stayed at a hotel in London. Notably, accommodation was available near the university where the convocation was held. Despite this, he stayed at the Landmark Hotel in London. The President is a custodian of public funds—not their owner. He does not have the right to misuse public money in this manner.”

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris revealed to the court that Sandra Perera, the personal secretary of Ranil Wickremesinghe, had stated that the visit in question was not an official one.

Extraction: “A statement was recorded from Mrs. Sandra Perera, who served as the personal secretary to the suspect. She stated that Ranil Wickremesinghe had not described the visit as an official one, but rather as a private visit. She further stated that she later came to know that it was indeed a private visit. Your Honour, this statement comes from the suspect’s own personal secretary, who also participated in the visit.”

The Additional Solicitor General also stated that the approval for the funds used for this visit was granted by the then Presidential Secretary, Saman Ekanayake, and that steps are being taken to impose a travel ban on him.

Opposing bail, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris argued that the charges against the suspect fall under the Public Property Act, and therefore special grounds are required to grant bail.

Extraction: “At this stage, there are no special grounds to grant bail to the suspect. Under the Public Property Act, bail can only be granted on exceptional grounds. I respectfully request Your Honour to treat this case as a routine criminal matter, one involving serious criminal allegations. The law must apply equally to everyone. It is unjust to spend public funds in this manner. This is a clear misuse of public money. How can funds be allocated for a private visit by falsely presenting it as an official one? The suspect himself has stated that it was a private visit. Your Honour, the investigation is not yet complete, and there are more suspects to be taken into custody. Justice must be blind to status and consider only the facts presented.”

President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared on behalf of the suspect, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and submitted a request for bail.

Extraction:

“Your Honour,

This investigation was initiated based on a complaint made by the current President’s Secretary. The reason this case could be filed today is because the suspect is no longer serving as President, and the immunity granted to Presidents has been removed. However, cases like this should not be filed in this manner. This case has been filed with clear bias and without properly investigating the nature of the invitation. The invitation came through the British High Commission, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was forwarded to the Presidential Secretariat. This clearly indicates that the visit to the UK was an official one.

The suspect is a 76-year-old individual who cannot endure long flights. That is why the UK was used as a transit point. He has been suffering from heart disease for seven years, along with diabetes, high blood pressure, and several other illnesses. This is the first time this information is being revealed—no one knew this before. His wife is a cancer patient. They have no children. It’s just the two of them, and he takes care of all her needs.

He is scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Youth Summit in India as the chief guest the day after tomorrow. Prison is not a secure place for a former President. Therefore, I respectfully request that my client be released on bail under suitable conditions.”