Team Departs for UK to Investigate about the Letter Sent to Ranil Wickremesinghe

17-Nov-2025

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A five-member Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team has travelled to the United Kingdom to examine the authenticity of a letter reportedly sent by the University of Wolverhampton inviting former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

According to an English-language newspaper report, the team is scheduled to record a statement tomorrow from former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Saroja Sirisena. When Wickremesinghe visited the UK in September 2023 to attend a graduation ceremony at the university, Sirisena was serving as High Commissioner.

Sirisena, who now resides in the UK, has been asked to appear at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London to provide her statement.

CID investigators allege that Rs. 16.6 million of public funds were spent on a two-day trip that they claim was for personal purposes. Former President Wickremesinghe was arrested in August this year regarding this case and was later released on bail.