A statement issued commenting on Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe being summoned to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigations Division for an investigation of political nature, alerts the authorities to uphold due process with fairness and proportionality.
The statement urges the authorities to ensure that these investigation actions avoid unwarranted harassment, intimidation or reputational harm to independent academics. “Academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the protection of scholars from political victimisation are essential pillars of a democratic society,” the statement read.
The full statement as follows:
We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe 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 Wickramasinghe was awarded an Honourary Professorship.
It is important to recall that the University of Wolverhampton honoured Professor Wickramasinghe 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 Wickramasinghe (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 Wickramasinghe 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, and for Professor Wickramasinghe’s professional independence, dignity, and distinguished record of service to be respected at all times.
(The statement dated February 23, 2026 is signed by 85 academics, journalists, feminists and lawyers)