Sri Lanka - August 2025

On 22 August, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested for allegedly misusing public funds while in office. Wickremesinghe is accused of using USD 59,500  in state funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London after a diplomatic visit to the United States in 2023. His arrest marks the first time a former president has been arrested and brought before a court on corruption charges. Rights experts note that the case represents the government’s commitment to tackling alleged corruption; however, some critics question why there have been no prosecutions against former presidents Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa, widely blamed for the economic crisis in 2022 and exacerbating a culture of corruption in politics. On 26 August, a Sri Lankan court granted Wickremesinghe bail, with legal proceedings in progress.

Sources: Deutsch Welle, The Diplomat, Daily Financial Times

On 5 August, Sri Lanka’s parliament voted to remove Deshabandu Tennakoon from his role as Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police (IGP). The decision follows a parliamentary-led inquiry and the release of a report in July that found him guilty of charges related to torture, misconduct and abuse of power. Tennakoon was suspended from his position by the Supreme Court in July 2024 due to a case launched by civil society organizations questioning the suitability of his appointment. An acting IGP was put in his place during this time. The parliamentary vote makes Tennakoon the first IGP in Sri Lanka’s history to be dismissed on these grounds. On 13 August, Priyantha Weerasooriya was appointed the new IGP, while Tennakoon continues to face ongoing court cases against him related to his prior conduct.

Sources: International IDEA, Newswire.lk, Al Jazeera