Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda had, by letter dated May 19, 2014, requested the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence to approve the funds required for former Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to attend the Royal Navy Young Officers Course at the Royal Navy Training College in the United Kingdom, the Colombo High Court was told on Thursday (15).
The court was informed that £24,536 in public funds had been spent on the training programme. The details emerged during testimony by a Navy representative appearing on behalf of former Navy Commander Admiral Travis Sinniah before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, when the money laundering case against Rajapaksa was taken up for hearing.
Responding to questions during cross-examination, the witness explained that payments for Navy officers attending overseas training programmes were generally made in foreign currencies, including US dollars and British pounds.
Meanwhile, Navy Captain Nuwan Thushara Arangala, testifying for the prosecution, told court that Rajapaksa had received a total of Rs. 5,159,626.37 in salaries and allowances during his nine years of service in the Navy.
The court was informed that Rajapaksa had served as a Navy Lieutenant from December 14, 2006, to February 28, 2017, although his service had been suspended on February 28, 2016.
According to the testimony, his monthly gross salary was Rs. 16,390, in addition to allowances for food, uniforms, housing and special duties.
The witness clarified that these allowances did not include payments made for overseas training programmes or participation in sporting events while representing the Navy.
During the proceedings, the prosecution also submitted Rajapaksa’s annual declarations of assets and liabilities for the period from 2009 to 2015.
A National Savings Bank official also testified regarding savings accounts and fixed deposits maintained by Rajapaksa, stating that no withdrawals had been made from the accounts since they were opened.
Rajapaksa is facing charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act over his alleged failure to explain the source of nearly Rs. 735 million acquired between August 1, 2012, and August 29, 2013, in Rajagiriya and Bambalapitiya.
The prosecution alleges that funds suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities were deposited in bank accounts and fixed deposits.
The court also heard testimony concerning the appointment of a guardian for Daisy Forrest, the second defendant in the case, and matters relating to the clearance of an imported outside broadcasting (OB) truck associated with CSN television.
Further examination of witnesses was scheduled for October 30, with the court directing 11 prosecution witnesses to appear on that date.