Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Sri Lanka Revives Stalled Cases Against Former Regime
The Sri Lankan government has decided to bring back many old cases against people from the previous government who might have done something wrong.
Between 2019 and 2024, 102 cases were dropped, but now 65 of them have been restarted.
The prime minister said they won't let anyone get away with wrongdoing, even if they were important people like the former president.
One former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was even arrested last year for using government money for his wife's private event.
The current president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, promised to fight corruption when he was elected in 2024.
Some cases, like one against another former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, were stopped because he had special protection as president, but now the government is looking into them again.
Sri Lanka's government is reviving 65 of the 102 cases withdrawn between 2019 and 2024 against former regime members for wrongdoings.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that the government will not spare anyone, including former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was arrested last year for misusing state funds.
Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's case for bribery and corruption was halted in 2019 due to presidential immunity and is now under review.
The current president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and has taken action against many former government members since assuming power in 2024.
Two former parliamentarians were also arrested days after Wickremesinghe's arrest, and the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption has filed actions against many former government members.
- Who
- Sri Lankan government, former regime members, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
- What
- Reviving stalled cases against former regime members for wrongdoings
- When
- Between 2019 and 2024, with recent actions in 2024
- Where
- Sri Lanka, specifically in Colombo
- Why
- To address corruption and wrongdoings by former government members, as part of the current government's anti-corruption campaign
- Total Cases Withdrawn (2019-24)
- 102
- Cases Refiled
- 65
- Cases Under Review
- 3
- Cases Dropped
- 34
- Former President Arrested
- Ranil Wickremesinghe
- Current President
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake
- Year of Current Government
- 2024
- Reason for Rajapaksa's Trial Halt
- Presidential Immunity