Ranil says London visit in 2023 was official

Thursday, 20 March 2025 04:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe

The Office of the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a statement yesterday denying the claims that the former Head of State and his spouse Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe travelled to London for a private visit in 2023 using State funds.

The statement noted that Wickremesinghe visited London three times in 2023. The first visit was on 9 May 2023, to attend the coronation of King Charles III. The second visit was for the 40th anniversary session of the International Democratic Union (IDU), while he was attending the Paris Summit, the statement noted.

Wickremesinghe, who also attended the G77 Summit in Havana, visited New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) before travelling to London for his third visit.

The ceremony to confer the title of Professor on Maithree Wickramasinghe by the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom took place during this time and Ranil Wickremesinghe was invited to the ceremony and attended it while returning from New York, the statement said.

During these visits, Ranil Wickremesinghe also met with numerous Heads of State. As the wife of the then President, Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe participated in meetings and workshops organised at the international level, according to the statement.

Furthermore, the statement clarified that although it was initially planned for Ranil Wickremesinghe to leave the city of London in the evening after arriving from New York, his return to Sri Lanka was delayed until the next day due to several meetings scheduled for that evening.

The former President’s Office stated that it is misleading to claim that a substantial amount of government funds was spent on a visit to London by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and officials. This also demonstrates that the current Government lacks an understanding of diplomatic trips, it further said.

As the President, did not make any private visit to London at government expense in 2023 while all statements made regarding this matter are false, the statement concluded.

The statement has been issued by the Office of the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in response to a statement made by the Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Ratnayake in Parliament last week that Wickremesinghe spent Rs. 16 million of public funds on a private visit.

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