By Peter Omopo – 23rd August 2025
Sri Lanka’s former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was rushed to the intensive care unit of Colombo National Hospital on Saturday after suffering acute dehydration, a day after being remanded in custody over corruption charges.
Hospital deputy director-general, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, confirmed that the 76-year-old leader—who has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure—required close monitoring. “He has to be closely observed and treated for acute dehydration to prevent serious complications,” Bellana said, though noting that his condition was currently stable.
Prison authorities explained that Wickremesinghe was transferred because the prison medical facility lacked the capacity to handle his condition.
The former president was arrested on Friday and ordered to remain in custody until August 26 on allegations of misusing 16.6 million rupees ($55,000) in state funds to finance a private visit to the United Kingdom in 2023. He faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
Opposition lawmakers who visited him earlier on Saturday reported that he had been in “good spirits” and called for unity against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government.
Wickremesinghe, who lost the 2024 presidential election but remains politically active, has denied wrongdoing, insisting that his wife’s UK trip expenses were personally funded. His United National Party (UNP) has described his detention as politically motivated.
The charges form part of the government’s broader anti-corruption drive as Sri Lanka struggles to recover from its 2022 economic collapse.
