Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on August 22, 2025, over allegations of misusing state funds during his tenure from 2022 to 2024. The arrest marks the first time a former Sri Lankan head of state has been detained. The allegations specifically relate to the misuse of public funds for a private trip to London in September 2023, where Wickremesinghe attended the University of Wolverhampton graduation ceremony for his wife. Following his arrest, Wickremesinghe was taken into custody and later granted bail. The arrest is part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown by Sri Lanka's new leftist government. Local and international media outlets, including Reuters, BBC, AFP, and others, reported on the development, highlighting the charges and the political context surrounding the detention.