It has been evidenced that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe did not invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) within the one-month period prescribed under the Constitution.
Mr. Wickremesinghe was arrested by CID officers on August 22, 2025 in connection with the alleged misuse of public funds amounting for a private overseas tour. He was subsequently produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court and remanded until August 26, 2025. Thereafter, the Magistrate granted him bail on three sureties of Rs. 5 million each.
Under Article 126(2) of the Constitution, any person alleging an infringement or imminent infringement of a fundamental right by executive or administrative action must file a Fundamental Rights application in the Supreme Court within one month of the alleged violation.
In former President Wickremesinghe’s case, the one-month period expired on either September 22 or September 26, 2025 (Date of arrest and date of release from detention). However, no Fundamental Rights petition was filed on his behalf during that time, indicating that the former President did not seek constitutional redress in relation to his arrest.
The magisterial inquiry against former President Wickremesinghe has been fixed for October 29.
