Ranil Wickremesinghe Visits Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Amid Bribery Probe Involving Son – Report

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the residence of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe this week following the arrest of Rajapakshe’s son by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), according to a report by the Sunday Times.

The report said Wickremesinghe, accompanied by several opposition politicians, met Rajapakshe to inquire about his wellbeing in the wake of the arrest.

During the discussion, Wickremesinghe reportedly stated that due process had been followed in connection with the arrest and detention of underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, known as “Harak Kata,” during his tenure as President.

He is said to have added that no individual could interfere in the matter and noted that, in his capacity as Defence Minister at the time, all relevant documents—including those related to “Harak Kata”—had been submitted to the Presidential Secretariat for approval.

Wickremesinghe also rejected allegations that Rajapakshe had improperly protected the underworld figure, stating that any request to ensure the safety of a person in state custody was part of the government’s duty to uphold detainee protection and human rights obligations.

Meanwhile, CIABOC has informed court that Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is also under investigation, after it was revealed that he and his son were in Dubai during the period when an alleged attempt to solicit money to influence a case took place.

Investigators are currently examining whether there is any connection between their presence in Dubai and the alleged offence, and whether it is linked to the ongoing inquiry.