Former Norwegian peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim, has urged the immediate release of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, voicing concern over his health while in custody.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Solheim said he stands with “leaders in Sri Lanka, South Asia and across the world” in calling for Wickremesinghe’s release. He praised the former president as the leader who “stood up to save Sri Lanka” during the country’s 2022 economic and political crisis.

Solheim dismissed the allegations against Wickremesinghe as “baseless,” stressing that even if they were proven, they would not amount to criminal or unacceptable conduct in Europe.

While expressing support for Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption drive, the former envoy urged authorities to concentrate on “genuine issues” rather than pursuing charges against Wickremesinghe.