Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Former Navy Chief Sought Funds for Rajapaksa Son's UK Training
A court heard that retired Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda pushed for approval of approximately £24,536 to fund former Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa's attendance at a prestigious Royal Navy training course in the United Kingdom.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Evidence presented in court revealed that Admiral Karannagoda, in his capacity as Navy Commander, sent a letter dated May 19, 2014, to the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence requesting authorization for the substantial funds. The money was intended to support Yoshitha Rajapaksa's enrollment in the Royal Navy Young Officers Course at the Royal Navy Training College.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, held the rank of Lieutenant in the Sri Lankan Navy at the time. The training program in question represents a significant professional development opportunity offered by the British military institution.
The revelation of Karannagoda's push for the funding approval has surfaced during ongoing court proceedings, adding to scrutiny surrounding defence expenditures and the allocation of military resources during the period in question. The details emerged as part of broader judicial examination into administrative and financial decisions made within the defence establishment.
The case highlights questions about resource allocation within the military hierarchy and the circumstances surrounding approvals for overseas training of military personnel, particularly those with high-profile family connections.