Sri Lanka, Aug. 24 -- Sri Lankan opposition parties gathered in Colombo on Sunday to condemn the arrest of former president Ranil Wickremesinghe calling it "undemocratic" and "petty act of political vengeance."

Leaders of several opposition parties held a joint press conference in Colombo to protest the arrest of Wickremesinghe over alleged misuse of state funds during his tenure.

"Our country is used to a very open democratic practices," said former president Maithripala Sirisena, who served as Sri Lanka's head of state from January 2015 to November 2019.

"These sort of actions go against those basic principles," Sirisena added.

He stated that the prevailing situation is extremely regrettable and that the opposition parties will unit...