Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was granted bail today, will continue to remain under medical care at the National Hospital for the next few days, the United National Party (UNP) said in a statement.
The party expressed gratitude to all supporters who rallied around Wickremesinghe after his remand last Friday.
A medical board comprising six specialist doctors informed court that the former President’s health condition was serious, warning that failure to provide continuous medical review could pose a risk to his life.
Taking these submissions into account, Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ruled that special circumstances had arisen in Wickremesinghe’s case and granted bail. He was released on three sureties of Rs. 5 million each, with strict orders not to interfere with the investigations or influence witnesses.
Wickremesinghe has been named a suspect in the alleged misuse of Rs. 16.6 million in state funds for a private overseas tour involving ten individuals. He was arrested last Friday after being summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), becoming the first former president in Sri Lanka to be taken into custody.
Initially admitted to the prison hospital following his remand, Wickremesinghe was later transferred to the National Hospital after doctors flagged multiple health complications.
Further magisterial inquiry has been scheduled for October 29.
