Yoshitha Rajapaksa bail was granted after court heard claims over naval training, changed qualifications and alleged state losses.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa bail was granted today by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court after he was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
The court ordered Rajapaksa’s release on three sureties of Rs. 50,000 each. The Magistrate also imposed a foreign travel ban on the suspect as part of the bail conditions.
The order further stated that those appearing as sureties for Rajapaksa must submit certificates confirming that they possess assets sufficient to cover the relevant value.
When the suspect was produced before court, Deputy Director General Ruwini Wickramasinghe, appearing with Assistant Director General Ama Wijesinghe on behalf of the Bribery Commission, told court that the investigation had begun following a complaint received on July 25, 2016.
Court Told Qualifications Were Altered For Course Entry
Wickramasinghe said the complaint related to allegations that Rajapaksa, despite not possessing the required qualifications, had been sent to England and Ukraine for naval training while qualified candidates were available. She also said facilities had been arranged for him.
“Your Honour… accordingly, the Bribery Commission commenced investigations. In October 2006, this suspect, who was then a civilian, submitted applications to participate in the ‘Royal Navy Young Officers Course’ in England. To participate in that course, one must have been selected as the most outstanding student who had completed two years of training as a cadet officer in the Navy. Additionally, one must have passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in Mathematics and Science subjects,” the Deputy Director General stated.
She told court that Rajapaksa had sat for the Advanced Level examination in the Arts stream.
“But this suspect had written the Advanced Level examination in the Arts stream. Accordingly, the qualifications were changed to allow this suspect to participate in the relevant course. Accordingly, newspaper advertisements were published stating that it would be sufficient to pass two subjects from the Science, Commerce, and Arts streams, and that one must have passed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination in Mathematics, Science, and English or Sinhala subjects with credit passes. Subsequently, on December 14, 2016, this suspect was recruited to the Navy.”
The Deputy Director General further stated that 26 student cadets were recruited along with Rajapaksa and that arrangements were made quickly to send him for the course. She said his name had been sent to England.
“This suspect presented himself for medical examinations on December 06. That is, he presented himself for the medical examination before the recruitment. Subsequently, on January 1, 2007, the suspect departed for England to participate in the relevant training. Only those who performed as the most outstanding students in the Executive Branch of the Navy could participate in such a course,” she told court.
Wickramasinghe said that from 1995 to 2010, five officers had been sent for this course, and that they had been sent on scholarships.
However, she said the Government had spent Rs. 6,284,218.61 for the course attended by Rajapaksa. She told court that the Government had suffered a loss of that amount through the action.
She further stated that evidence revealed Rajapaksa had been recruited to the Navy with the aim of boosting the morale of security officials during the war period.
“To improve the morale of security officials, leaders should go to the war front. But this suspect never went to the war front. He never served in war zones. After completing training in England and returning to the country, he went to Ukraine for further training within two months. Evidence reveals that this suspect, along with former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, had conspired to carry out this act,” the Deputy Director General of the Bribery Commission stated.
She also informed court that granting bail to the suspect could lead to witness intimidation.
Defence Says Blame Cannot Be Placed On Him
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, told court that the investigation had commenced around ten years ago.
“Your Honour, such an allegation cannot be made against my client. Anyone can apply for a course. Selection is made only if qualifications are met. Similarly, my client also applied for this. He was selected. There is nothing he could do about that. Therefore, a fault cannot be imposed on him. He has three cases in the High Court. He has continuously appeared for every case,” he stated.
The President’s Counsel requested that Rajapaksa be released on bail under any conditions, arguing that the Bribery Commission had not presented reasonable grounds to detain him under the Bail Act.
After considering submissions made by both sides, the Additional Magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on bail.
The Magistrate then ordered that the complaint be called again on August 04. The court also directed that a progress report on the investigations be submitted on that date.
