The Dangerous Precedent: Why Arresting Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Sets a Troubling Standard for Sri Lankan Democracy
By: Niroshana De Silva
August 23, 2025
Yesterday marked what many are calling a black day in Sri Lankan political history. For the first time since King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was deposed by the British in 1815, a Sri Lankan head of state has been arrested and handcuffed—this time, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, detained over allegations of misusing in public funds during a 2023 London trip.
This arrest represents not just a legal action, but a fundamental misunderstanding of the unique nature of presidential duties and a dangerous precedent that threatens the very fabric of our democratic institutions.
The Myth of Separation: Presidential Life vs. Official Duty
The central flaw in this arrest lies in the naive assumption that heads of state can somehow separate their “official” and “private” lives. This is not merely impractical—it’s impossible. When a sitting president travels anywhere in the world, every handshake, every conversation, every public appearance is an extension of state diplomacy.
Unlike ordinary citizens or even regular government officials, presidents cannot switch off their representative capacity. They carry the weight of national interest in every interaction. A “personal” meeting with international business leaders becomes economic diplomacy. A cultural event becomes soft power projection. Even informal conversations can open doors to crucial partnerships that benefit the entire nation.
To criminally prosecute a former president for expenses incurred during such activities is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of presidential responsibility and to set a precedent that will paralyze future leaders.
A Pattern of Political Revenge
This arrest fits into a troubling global pattern of political weaponization of the justice system. History shows us that arresting political opponents often reflects revenge politics rather than genuine justice:
1. Indira Gandhi was arrested by Morarji Desai using emergency laws, yet she returned to lead India for years
2. Jayalalitha faced imprisonment while in opposition, only to become South India’s most powerful leader
3. Donald Trump faced legal challenges, yet completed his presidential term
4. Sheikh Hasina and Ferdinand Marcos faced similar political persecution
The common thread? Political arrests often backfire, creating martyrs rather than delivering justice.
The Wickremesinghe Legacy: Three Times the Savior
Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s record speaks for itself. He has stepped forward during three of Sri Lanka’s darkest hours:
1. 1993: After President Premadasa’s assassination, he maintained governmental stability and prevented the country from descending into anarchy
2. 2000: During the first major economic downturn, he restored economic growth and confidence
3. 2022: At the peak of our most severe economic crisis, he took leadership when no one else would, securing a $2.9 billion IMF bailout and pulling Sri Lanka back from total collapse
This is a man who has consistently put country before personal comfort, who took the helm when others fled, who stabilized our economy when we were on the brink of becoming a failed state.
The Hypocrisy of Selective Justice?
While former President Wickremesinghe faces arrest over misusing the public funds during the UK visit, where is the accountability for the billions that were truly stolen from this nation as present president highlighted during his pre presidential campaigns? Where are the arrests of those who actually bankrupted Sri Lanka as per the present presdient? The focus on this relatively minor sum while ignoring the massive corruption highlighted by the present president and the govrenment that led to our economic collapse reveals the political nature of this prosecution.
Moreover, the same government that arrests Wickremesinghe over London trip expenses to attend his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe’s graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, UK should examine its own representatives’ performance on the international stage. The recent embarrassment at the World Economic Forum, where Minister Sunil Handunnetti’s poor performance damaged Sri Lanka’s image globally, cost far more than the value in terms of lost credibility and investment opportunities and also about the fake doctorate holders in his party.
A Dangerous Precedent for Democracy
This arrest sends a chilling message to future leaders: “Serve the country at your own risk.” If presidents can be prosecuted for expenses incurred while representing national interests, who will want to take on the burden of leadership during crises?
The handcuffs on Ranil Wickremesinghe’s wrists are not just restraining one man—they’re constraining the very institution of the presidency and the willingness of capable leaders to serve their nation when it matters most.
The Politics of Gratitude vs. Revenge
Sri Lankan culture has always been rooted in values of kindness, empathy, respect, and gratitude. We honor those who sacrifice for the greater good. We remember those who stood by us in dark times. This arrest represents a departure from these fundamental values.
As Presidential Lawyer Mohamed Ali Sabry correctly noted, “Sri Lanka needs a politics that expresses gratitude to those who have restored, stabilized and protected the nation again and again.” Instead, we’re witnessing a politics of revenge that threatens to destroy the very people who saved us.
Looking Forward: The Need for “RW 3.0”
History suggests that this arrest may well catalyze Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political comeback an “RW 3.0” that unites opposition forces around the principles of stability, economic competence, and international respect.
His calm demeanor even while handcuffed demonstrates the resilience that has characterized his 48-year career.
His vision for Sri Lanka—balanced diplomacy with major powers, attraction of investment, completion of stalled projects, and positioning within the shifting global order from West to East—remains more relevant than ever.
A Call for Reason
The arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is not about justice—it’s about politics. It’s not about accountability—it’s about revenge. It’s not about protecting public funds—it’s about destroying political opponents.
This cycle of hate and revenge must end. Sri Lanka deserves leaders who think beyond the next election cycle, who understand that presidents cannot have private lives separate from their official duties, and who
recognize that representing the nation on the world stage is always an official function deserving of support, not prosecution.
We stand at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of destructive politics that has characterized too much of our recent history, or we can return to the values of gratitude and respect that define us as Sri
Lankans.
The choice is ours. The time is now.
Because we are Sri Lankans with gratitude… Always!
