AG to File Indictments Against Wickremesinghe Within a Month

The Attorney General’s Department informed court yesterday that investigations into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe are expected to be concluded within one month, following which indictments will be filed before the High Court. Appearing before court, counsel representing the Attorney General’s Department stated that inquiries conducted so far relate to several matters, including Wickremesinghe’s visit to the United Kingdom. Investigations have revealed that the visit was not an official one. The case was taken up for consideration on January 28, after which the court ordered that it be called again on April 29 to review further progress. The Attorney General’s Department assured the court that remaining investigative steps are being expedited to ensure the timely filing of indictments once the probe is completed.

Meanwhile, former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake was remanded until February 11 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was produced before court when the case filed against former President Wickremesinghe over the alleged misappropriation of public funds was taken up for hearing. Former President Wickremesinghe also appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court earlier in the day in connection with the scheduled legal proceedings.

The case stems from a complaint alleging the misappropriation of over Rs. 16.6 million in public funds. It is alleged that the funds were used to finance a private foreign visit to the United Kingdom in 2023, during which Wickremesinghe attended his wife’s graduation ceremony.

In a separate development, the Supreme Court yesterday directed the petitioner’s lawyers to take steps to issue notices on a group of respondents, including former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in relation to a Fundamental Rights petition seeking the recovery of compensation allegedly paid unlawfully to former Ministers whose houses were damaged during the violence of May 9, 2022.

The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Gihan Kulatunga. It has been filed by environmental lawyer Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, who is seeking an order directing the recovery of compensation paid to former Ministers for damage to their private residences during the post–May 9 unrest, which he claims exceeded limits permitted by law.

According to court submissions, the respondents named in the petition include former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne, former Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne, former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, former Ministers of Public Security Prasanna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles, and former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Jagath Alwis.

Appearing for the petitioner, Attorney-at-Law Gamini Perera informed the court that the correct addresses of the respondents had been submitted in compliance with an earlier directive and requested permission to proceed with issuing notices. The bench subsequently directed that notices be issued.

The petitioner has relied on a statement made in Parliament on February 5 last year by Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, which disclosed that compensation amounting to Rs. 1.22 billion had been paid to 43 individuals in connection with damage to the houses of Ministers during the violence of May 9, 2022. Several former Ministers of the previous government were reportedly among the recipients.

Dr. Dabare has pointed out that under existing law, even in cases of natural disasters, compensation for housing damage is capped at Rs. 2.5 million. He has alleged that certain former Ministers received amounts exceeding this limit, rendering the payments unlawful. The petition further claims that the selective payment of substantial compensation to specific individuals violated the petitioner’s fundamental rights.

The petitioner is seeking a declaration to this effect, an order directing an investigation into the compensation scheme, legal action against those responsible, and the recovery of unlawfully obtained funds. He has also requested the court to direct the State to pay any legitimately due compensation through a fair and lawful mechanism.

The Supreme Court fixed the petition for further consideration on May 8.