• Specialist ICU docs to decide on fitness to appear in court

A special security detail has been assigned to the Colombo National Hospital, where former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is receiving medical treatment after being remanded on 22 August, a spokesperson for the Department of Prisons said yesterday (25).

According to Prison spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe, seven jailors and four prison guards have been deployed to ensure Wickremesinghe’s security.

Wickremesinghe was arrested and remanded on charges of misusing State funds. He was initially admitted to the Prison Hospital and transferred to the Colombo National Hospital later.

The case is scheduled to be heard again today (26).

Meanwhile, the health condition of Wickremesinghe has improved to a somewhat satisfactory level, according to the Acting Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Pradeep Wijesinghe. 

Dr. Wijesinghe stated that although Wickremesinghe is currently in a stable and satisfactory condition, he remains under close observation by specialist doctors in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and that his condition could still change.

However, Dr. Wijesinghe further noted that a decision regarding whether Wickremesinghe will be able to appear before court today was scheduled to be made later yesterday (25), following a medical discussion among the doctors. 

Wickremesinghe, who was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department on 22 August, over allegations of misusing public funds by engaging in a private visit while claiming it to be an official one, is currently receiving treatment in the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital. 

Following his arrest, Wickremesinghe was remanded, and the case is scheduled to be recalled today at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.