Sri Lanka's Former President Faces Legal Turmoil Amid Health Concerns

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 76, was admitted to Colombo National Hospital's intensive care unit on Saturday after his arrest and subsequent denial of bail regarding alleged misuse of state funds.

He was initially remanded by the Colombo Fort magistrate's court until August 26, following allegations of misappropriating 16.6 million Sri Lankan rupees. His detention prompted numerous visits from former colleagues and opponents, highlighting the incident's political implications.

The charges against Wickremesinghe were filed under Sections 386 and 388 of the penal code and Section 5(1) of the Public Properties Act, with potential imprisonment terms spanning one to 20 years. The ongoing investigation focuses on his travel expenses and the utilization of government funds for personal activities.

(With inputs from agencies.)