In the wake of the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe over the alleged misuse of state funds for a foreign trip, the government said it would probe similar malpractices involving other former Heads of State based on complaints, a Minister said.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Mr. Wickremesinghe last week and produced him before the Colombo Fort Magistrate. Later, he was remanded. Now he is on bail.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Daily Mirror that the law would be applied across the board, and any other former President would not be spared if complaints were received.
“If somebody makes complaints, we will investigate cases against former Presidents or anyone ,” he said.
Asked whether complaints had been received, he said he could not share such details off hand. However, he said investigations are underway against a host of former politicians who held ministerial responsibilities in the past.
The government, earlier, submitted details about foreign travel expenses of Mr. Wickremesinghe and current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The latest arrest of Mr. Wickremesinghe has sparked a political debate regarding the power of the President in spending state funds. Article 33 of Sri Lanka Constitution stipulates how the President should exercise his authority.
The new government led by the National People’s power (NPP) has now sought to prune the benefits of former Presidents. A piece of legislation has already been evolved to be enacted by Parliament. It has been gazetted at the moment.
Recently, the Supreme Court concluded hearings on the petitions challenging the constitutionality of the bill.