Summary

On August 22, 2025, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested in Colombo over allegations of government fund embezzlement and presented in court. The charges focus on his misuse of state funds during a London trip in September 2023. The Colombo Magistrate Court remanded him until August 26, 2025.

Simultaneously, the historical reality of Sri Lanka shows that Eelam Tamils have faced systemic injustices, mass killings, abductions, and disappearances since independence, and justice for these crimes has yet to be delivered. High-ranking political leaders and military officials responsible for crimes against Tamils have not been held accountable in any court of law, and no Sri Lankan government or state institution has implemented meaningful justice for the Tamil people.

✦. Current Situation – Arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe

Arrest and remand: Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the CID and was arrested, then presented to the Colombo Magistrate Court, which issued a remand until August 26, 2025.

Charges: Allegations concern the misuse of government funds during a London trip in 2023. Media reports cite an amount of approximately LKR 16.9 million (around USD 55,000).

Government position: The current administration describes this as a step to curb state corruption.

✦. Legal Status

Criminal proceedings: Only allegations exist; he is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.

Key date: August 26, 2025 – end of the remand period, after which bail or further investigation will be determined.

✦. Abuses and Atrocities During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Tenure

• Massacres and ethnic violence in the North and East:

During Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as Prime Minister and in other high state positions, the Sri Lankan military and state security apparatus carried out numerous massacres, village attacks, and destruction of Tamil communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

These incidents were documented during his periods of influence from 1989–1994, 2001–2004, and other periods when he held office.

• Actions against Tamil liberation movements:

International diplomatic measures: During his tenure, the Sri Lankan state collaborated with international actors to suppress Tamil liberation efforts.

Intelligence and political coordination: Information sharing, diplomatic pressure, and enforcement measures in countries including India, the U.S., and European states were employed to act against the Tamils.

• Domestic measures:

Abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and violent imprisonment of Tamils increased during periods when Ranil Wickremesinghe held office.

• Lack of accountability: No high-ranking political or military official responsible for these actions has been brought to justice.

✦. Continued Denial of Justice for Eelam Tamils

Since Sri Lanka’s independence, Eelam Tamils have suffered systemic massacres, ethnic violence, abductions, and disappearances.

• No justice delivered: No Sri Lankan government or judicial institution has effectively delivered justice for these crimes.

• Impunity of officials: Those responsible for atrocities, including political leaders and senior military officers, have never been held accountable in court.

> When viewed alongside the arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe and related political events, this underscores the serious gaps in the rule of law, political accountability, and justice in Sri Lanka.

1987–89 Southern Insurrection & Batalanda Commission

• Historical background: During the JVP insurrection (1987–1989), 35,000–60,000 people were killed, involving both government crackdowns and JVP violence.

• Batalanda Commission: Established in 1995 to investigate unlawful killings and abuses. Ranil Wickremesinghe, as opposition leader at the time, was found to hold political responsibility, though no criminal charges were pursued.

• 2025 reexamination: Recently, the commission report was revisited in Parliament, highlighting its relevance to current accountability debates.

“Handcuffed and Prison Bus” Incident

While social media circulated images and videos showing Ranil Wickremesinghe handcuffed and taken in a prison bus, major international and local media have not officially verified these claims. Verified information confirms he was placed under prison custody.

Next Steps & Future Outlook

Courts will review whether expenses for the London trip were legally justified.

The case may trigger further investigations into past administrations.

Justice for Tamils: To date, no steps have been taken; political and military officials remain unaccountable, raising profound questions about justice and accountability in Sri Lanka.

Author’s Note

This article relies solely on verified public sources. The case is ongoing; Ranil Wickremesinghe is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The continued lack of justice for Eelam Tamils and the impunity of political and military officials highlight significant historical and systemic failures in Sri Lanka’s governance and legal system.