A coalition of academics, journalists, feminists, and lawyers has issued a statement expressing concern over reports that former First Lady Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe has been summoned by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The summons is reportedly linked to an ongoing investigation involving her husband, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, over alleged misuse of public funds to attend a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where Prof. Wickremesinghe was awarded an Honorary Professorship.

The statement emphasises that the honour was awarded in recognition of Prof. Wickremesinghe’s “extensive research, training, and policy work on gender equity and equality.”

Full text of the statement: “We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe has been summoned to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The summons is reportedly connected to an ongoing case against her husband former President Ranil Wickremesinghe concerning the alleged use of public funds to attend a ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton, where Professor Wickremesinghe was awarded an Honorary Professorship. It is important to recall that the University of Wolverhampton honoured Professor Wickremesinghe as “a leading Sri Lankan Professor” in recognition of her extensive research, training, and policy work on gender equity and equality. This distinction was awarded on the basis of her independent academic achievements and long-standing professional contributions.

“Professor Wickremesinghe (PhD) serves as Chair and Senior Professor of English at the University of Kelaniya and is the founding Director of its Centre for Gender Studies. With more than three decades of teaching and research experience, she has made nationally significant contributions to gender equality policy development, gender sensitisation training, and the evaluation of women’s and gender programmes within Sri Lanka and internationally. Her doctoral work at the Institute of Education, University of London (2007), Making Meaning of Meaning-making: A Case Study of Feminist Research Methodology in Sri Lanka, has been widely cited and published by Routledge, reflecting her standing in global academic scholarship.

“Her professional contributions includes service on national and international advisory bodies, including appointments linked to the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Commonwealth Says No More initiative. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Asian University for Women and has contributed extensively to academic editorial work, training, and institutional development. Notably, the Centre for Gender Studies she established at the University of Kelaniya has helped catalyse the establishment of similar centres across Sri Lanka’s university system. These achievements should be markers of national pride not disregard and derision. Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe is an independent scholar of recognised integrity and distinction. Any investigative processes relating to matters of public accountability must be conducted fairly, transparently, and in strict adherence to due process. However, it is deeply troubling when a scholar of her standing appears to be drawn into proceedings that are fundamentally political in nature and centred on allegations concerning another individual who is her husband.

“We urge the relevant authorities to ensure that investigative actions do not result in the unwarranted harassment, intimidation, or reputational harm of independent academics. Academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the protection of scholars from political victimisation are essential pillars of a democratic society. We call for due process to be upheld with fairness and proportionality, & for Professor Wickremesinghe’s professional independence, dignity, & distinguished record of service to be respected at all times.

“The following academics, journalists, feminist activists and lawyers have given consent to include their names in releasing this statement. 1. Amaya Weerasinghe 2. Amithy Alles 3. Annie Kurian 4. Anoma Wijewardhena 5. Bhavani Fonseka – AAL 6. Canchana Abeysekera 7. Champika Amerasinghe 8. Champa Malawaraarachchige 9. Chandev Abeyratne 10. Chandragupta Tenuwara 11. Dammika Kumari Jayasundara 12. Deshamanya Radhika Coomaraswamy 13. Dr. Nimalka Fernando – AAL 14. Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu 15. Dr. D. U. S. Gunawardena 16. Dr Colin Fernandopulle 17. Dr. Deeghyu Munasinghe 18. Dr. Renuka Pathirana 19. Dr. Subangi Herath 20. Dr. Indi Akurugoda 21. Dr Sarupa Manatunga 22. Dr Sulochana Segara 23. Dr. Raja Wijetunga 24. Ferial Ashroff 25. Gayani Gomez 26. Harsha Gunasena 27. I A Karunaratne 28. Illika Karunaratne 29. Indrani Kusumalatha 30. Jeevanee Kariyawasam – AAL 31. K. P. S. Gunawardena 32. Karu Herath 33. Kularathna, Thushari Gange 34. Kumari Iddamalgama 35. Kusum Silva 36. Kshanika Ratnayake 37. Lakkana Danidu 38. Mallika Samaranayake –AAL 39. Madhu Hettiarachchi 40. Nadira P Mailewa 41. Nalina Ranjan Fernando 42. Nehama Jayawardana 43. Nirmalie Wickramasinghe 44. Nelun Gunasekera 45. Omathage Amalee Prashanthi Perera 46. Padmni Weerasooriya 47. Philip Dissanayake 48. P. T. S. Gunawardena 49. Pradeep Amirthanayagam 50. Priyani Wijesekera –AAL 51. Priyadarshini Ariyarathne 52. Priyani Gunerathne 53. Pradeepa Sudarshani 54. Professor Aminda Methsila 55. Professor Geethani Bulankulama 56. Professor Ruvais 57. Professor Upul Dissanayake 58. Prof. Sivagnanam Jeyasankar 59. Pushpa Ramlani 60. Renuka Fernando 61.Rohan de Silva 62. Saroja Sivachandran 63. Savitri Rodrigo 64. Sagarica Delgoda 65. Shanthini Kongahage 66. Shereen Xavier 67. Shyamalee Wickramasingha 68. Sri Piyasena 69. Sriyani Perera 70. Stella Philips 71. Sudakshina Wimalasekera 72. Sudarshana Gunewardhena -AAL 73. Sunela Jayawardene 74.Sunil Jayasekera 75.Thushani shivanthika 76. Umanga Thammannagoda 77. Udayangani Daluwatte – AAL 78.Vidya Perera 79.Vishaka Darmadasa 80. Zarina Rahim 81. Zohara Aziz 82. Consultant Surgeon Dr Manjula Herath 83. Consultant Surgeon Dr Abeysinghe 84. Consultant Surgeon Dr Seetha Arambepola 85. Consultant Dr. Sujatha Senaratne”