Karannagoda pushed for £24,536 for Yoshitha’s UK training, Court told

Former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda requested approval for funds to send former Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa to the UK for training, according to court documents. The High Court in Colombo heard testimony on Thursday (15) regarding the expenditure of £24,536 on the program. The testimony came during a hearing of the money laundering case against Rajapaksa, with a Navy representative representing Karannagoda.

It was explained that payments for officers attending overseas training are typically made in foreign currencies, including British pounds. Navy Captain Nuwan Thushara Arangala testified that Rajapaksa received a total of Rs. 5,159,626.37 in salary and allowances over his nine-year tenure in the Navy, which ended with a suspension on February 28, 2016.

Rajapaksa served as a Lieutenant from December 14, 2006, to February 28, 2017. His monthly gross salary was Rs. 16,390, plus allowances for food, uniforms, housing, and special duties. The prosecution presented Rajapaksa's annual declarations of assets and liabilities from 2009 to 2015, and a National Savings Bank official testified regarding savings accounts and fixed deposits held by the former Navy officer, noting that no withdrawals had been made since the accounts were opened.

Rajapaksa faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for allegedly failing to disclose the source of nearly Rs. 735 million acquired between August 2012 and August 2013, which the prosecution claims were deposited in bank accounts and fixed deposits. The court also heard testimony about the appointment of a guardian for Daisy Forrest, the second defendant, and matters concerning the clearance of an imported OB truck used by CSN television.

More witness examinations were scheduled for October 30, with 11 prosecution witnesses required to appear on that date.