-By A Special Correspondent - Colombo & Paris
(Lanka-e-News -04.Nov.2025, 11.30 PM) It begins, as all Sri Lankan political dramas do, with a “medical visit.”
And it may well end, as all Sri Lankan political dramas do, in Paris.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe—lawyer, veteran of six parliaments, and perennial political phoenix—is again in the eye of a storm. This time, not in the corridors of Temple Trees, but in the departure lounge of Bandaranaike International Airport.
According to credible diplomatic and judicial sources, Wickremesinghe is “actively exploring” a route to France under the pretext of medical treatment—a quiet exit plan that, if successful, could mirror the notorious departure of Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif, who left for “urgent heart treatment” in London and never looked back.
But Ranil’s heart ailment, it appears, may be more political than medical.
The former President is currently out on bail in connection with an ongoing case involving the alleged misuse of public funds for his wife’s private trip to the United Kingdom. The charge is simple: that state resources—vehicles, staff, and official allowances—were improperly used for what was, by all accounts, a personal visit.
Wickremesinghe, now 76, has denied all wrongdoing. Yet, what began as a legal skirmish has rapidly escalated into a full-blown political crisis. The National People’s Power (NPP) government, elected on an anti-corruption platform, has shown little appetite for leniency.
“Ranil has become a legal liability for his old allies,” one senior government insider told The Lanka E news. “He knows the courts are closing in—and his only exit strategy is to find a European country willing to take him in before the January hearings.”
Multiple sources with knowledge of diplomatic communications claim Wickremesinghe has sought “medical consultations” in France—specifically in Paris and Lyon—where a private clinic is reportedly being considered for his “treatment.”
But those in Colombo’s political and intelligence circles aren’t buying it.
“It’s a disguise,” said a senior judicial source familiar with the bail conditions. “The former president is seeking to relocate to France permanently. He believes he can obtain political protection there, given his previous dealings with certain French officials during his tenure.”
In an extraordinary twist, one of the key figures allegedly aiding Wickremesinghe’s proposed relocation is a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) of South Asian origin. That individual, who once advocated for Sri Lankan reconciliation in Brussels, has maintained close personal ties with Wickremesinghe since the mid-2000s.
According to leaked correspondence reviewed by Colombo-based journalists, the former MEP has been “advising on legal and immigration aspects” of the move. The same individual also accompanied Wickremesinghe’s spouse during her controversial UK university visit,one that sparked the current criminal probe, —and to the infamous Al Jazeera interview in the London,
“The financial transactions around that trip are now under scrutiny,” said a senior investigator attached to the Attorney General’s Department. “Payments were made to individuals with British citizenship for advisory roles that appear fictitious. That includes this former MEP, who is believed to have dual nationality.”
Adding another layer of intrigue, diplomatic sources in Oslo confirmed that a former Norwegian peace negotiator—once involved in the Sri Lankan peace process—is also “in touch” with Wickremesinghe’s aides.
This Norwegian figure, well-connected within European diplomatic circles, reportedly floated the idea of France as a “safe destination” should Wickremesinghe face judicial difficulties in Colombo.
“He has the network and the contacts,” said a Scandinavian journalist who covered the Sri Lankan peace talks in the early 2000s. “The idea is to frame Ranil’s relocation as a humanitarian case—an aging statesman under political persecution, rather than a defendant avoiding trial.”
There’s just one problem with this French fantasy: Ranil Wickremesinghe’s passport.
Under the terms of his bail, the former president is not permitted to travel abroad without explicit court permission. Furthermore, the NPP government has revoked all diplomatic passports issued to former presidents and prime ministers—a move that effectively downgraded his travel privileges.
“Ranil no longer enjoys the immunity or mobility that came with high office,” explained a senior foreign ministry official. “He must apply for a regular visa like any other citizen. And the Europeans are extremely cautious about issuing visas to individuals under active criminal proceedings.”
Indeed, European Union embassies in Colombo have been quietly alerted to Wickremesinghe’s legal status. The French embassy, in particular, is said to have raised concerns about “public accountability implications” should a visa be issued.
“It would look politically disastrous,” said a Paris-based diplomatic analyst. “France does not want to host another high-profile Asian leader accused of corruption or misusing state funds. The optics are terrible.”
If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is.
In 2019, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left for London on medical grounds while facing multiple corruption convictions. Years later, he remains abroad, his “temporary treatment” having stretched into a de facto exile.
Wickremesinghe, according to his critics, appears to be following the same script.
“Ranil has studied how Nawaz did it,” said a Sri Lankan political columnist. “Create the image of ill health, apply for temporary medical leave, and quietly fade into a European capital. The only difference is Ranil’s health issues are political—and entirely self-inflicted.”
Sources close to the investigation have also identified two prominent businessmen believed to be assisting Wickremesinghe’s potential escape plan.
Both men, long-time political donors, are themselves under investigation for alleged misuse of state contracts and financial misconduct during Wickremesinghe’s administration. They reportedly fear that a conviction against the former president could draw attention to their own dealings.
“Ranil’s legal downfall would expose them too,” said a senior law enforcement officer. “So, they have every incentive to make sure he leaves the country before the courts start naming names.”
Financial records reviewed by the investigative unit of the Ministry of Finance indicate that one of these businessmen provided logistical support during Wickremesinghe’s wife’s UK visit—paying for accommodation and hospitality arrangements later billed to a government department.
Both men are now being questioned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID).
Adding to the tension is a parallel controversy involving former Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, who is also accused of using public funds for a private UK visit earlier this year.
Sabry attended a student event at Cambridge University under what was later revealed to be a private invitation. Yet, his travel and accommodation were covered by the Foreign Ministry.
“The parallels are uncanny,” said a senior NPP parliamentarian. “Both Sabry and Ranil used the cover of public service for private gain. And both cases expose how Sri Lankan elites have long treated public money as a personal travel fund.”
The NPP government, meanwhile, has vowed to introduce stricter oversight on official foreign travel. “We are ending this culture of political tourism,” declared a Justice Ministry spokesperson.
In Paris, officials at the Quai d’Orsay are said to be “monitoring” the situation but have not received any formal visa application from Wickremesinghe as of this week.
Privately, French diplomats are torn between two instincts: sympathy for a long-serving Asian leader known for his pro-Western stance, and caution about entangling France in a politically sensitive legal case.
“Ranil was always seen as the most Western-friendly of Sri Lankan leaders,” said a former French envoy to Colombo. “But that doesn’t mean France wants to become his sanctuary.”
France has been under pressure to demonstrate consistency in its asylum and visa policies following controversies involving foreign leaders accused of corruption. Any special treatment for Wickremesinghe could trigger a domestic political backlash.
Inside Colombo, the NPP administration appears alert to the risk of a stealth escape. A motion has already been filed before the High Court requesting the temporary suspension of Wickremesinghe’s passport until the conclusion of his trial.
“The government will not allow another Gotabaya-style flight,” said an NPP legal advisor, referring to the former president’s dramatic escape during the 2022 protests. “We have learned from history. This time, the airport gates will not open so easily.”
Senior police officials confirmed that airport authorities have been instructed to flag any travel requests or visa applications made under Wickremesinghe’s name.
“Even if he claims a medical emergency, the system will detect it,” one officer said.
For the once-formidable United National Party (UNP), now reduced to a handful of seats, Wickremesinghe’s legal and political troubles have come as a final blow.
Party insiders describe an atmosphere of confusion and resignation. “There’s no leadership left,” said one longtime party member. “Everyone knows Ranil’s days are numbered. He’s thinking of Paris, not Parliament.”
Even among his traditional backers in Colombo’s business and diplomatic circles, enthusiasm has waned. One retired diplomat summed it up grimly: “Ranil stayed too long at the fair. Now the lights are off, and he’s looking for the exit.”
If Wickremesinghe proceeds with his court application to travel abroad, the judiciary will face a defining test. Approving his request could trigger public outrage; rejecting it could invite accusations of political persecution.
Either way, the optics are delicate.
“It’s a test of judicial independence,” said Professor Saliya Jayawardene, a constitutional lawyer. “The courts must ensure equality before the law. A bail condition is not a formality—it is a guarantee that justice will be seen to be done.”
For now, Wickremesinghe remains in Colombo, reportedly preparing a “medical file” to support his request for treatment in France. His advisers insist that the trip is “purely health-related.” But few in Sri Lanka—or in Europe—believe that narrative.
As one NPP minister dryly put it, “Every Sri Lankan politician gets sick when the Attorney General starts asking questions.”
There is an unmistakable irony in Wickremesinghe’s predicament. For decades, he championed Western alliances, liberal democracy, and good governance. Now, those same Western capitals may become his reluctant gatekeepers.
Whether he finds refuge in Paris or faces justice in Colombo, the symbolism is impossible to miss: a leader who once promised to modernise Sri Lanka now reduced to pleading for a visa.
And as the January court date approaches, the race between law and escape tightens by the day.
Because in Colombo’s political folklore, “medical leave” has always been the first step to permanent exile.
-By A Special Correspondent - Colombo & Paris
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by (2025-11-04 22:42:03)
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