The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed multiple charges against Yoshitha Rajapaksa and retired Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda before the Colombo High Court, alleging improper facilitation of naval training.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has filed indictments against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, at the Colombo High Court. The charges relate to allegations of corruption spanning multiple incidents during Karannagoda's tenure as Navy Commander.
According to the indictments, the primary allegation involves Karannagoda's alleged facilitation of Rajapaksa's participation in the Royal Navy Young Officers Course at Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom between September 2006 and June 2007. Karannagoda is accused of causing financial loss to the state through this arrangement, while Rajapaksa is charged with obtaining undue benefit from it. Additional allegations reportedly relate to Rajapaksa's recruitment to the Navy despite purportedly not meeting required educational qualifications.
The Bribery Commission has filed a total of eight charges against the two accused. The matter is now before the Colombo High Court, which is expected to issue summons to formally serve the charges on the defendants. Further details regarding the specific nature of the remaining charges are yet to be disclosed.
