Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly faced a challenging interview during his appearance on Al Jazeera’s ‘Head to Head’ program in London.
While on a private visit to London, Wickremesinghe accepted an invitation from Al Jazeera, marking his first international media interview since stepping down as President. His participation in the interview was seen as an opportunity to address key global issues and gain international attention.
The interview, hosted by Mehdi Hasan, was recorded on February 5 at Conway Hall, London. The discussion covered several controversial topics, including:
- Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and proposed reforms
- Corruption allegations and human rights concerns
- Government actions following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks
- Allegations related to the Batalanda torture chambers
- Privatization of state enterprises
- The Central Bank bond scandal
- Issues surrounding diplomatic appointments
One of the most heated moments of the interview occurred when Hasan pressed Wickremesinghe on the Batalanda torture chamber allegations.
When asked, “Were you aware of the existence of torture chambers?”, Wickremesinghe responded,
“That was a turbulent period. My focus was on governance, and we had to protect the state.”
At one point, an agitated Wickremesinghe questioned the format of the interview, asking:
“Do I really need to answer these types of questions? Is this some kind of YouTube show?”
To this, Hasan responded sharply:
“No, Mr. Wickremesinghe, this is a global platform. You cannot evade accountability.”
Following the interview, reports indicate that Wickremesinghe abruptly cut short his UK visit and traveled to Oman.
It remains unclear whether Al Jazeera will broadcast the full interview, adding further intrigue to the controversial exchange.