Defence Ministry to investigate Yoshitha’s scholarships

Tuesday, 27 January 2015 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Defence Secretary B.M.U.D. Basnayake has ordered the Navy Commander to launch a full-scale inquiry as to how a member of the former first family joined the Navy and received scholarships to study at a prestigious naval college overseas. The order was given after the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) raised the issue with the Defence Secretary yesterday and questioned as to how Yoshitha Rajapaksa, second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, joined the Sri Lanka Navy and received a scholarship to study at the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom.

JVP Member of the Western Provincial Council Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Defence Secretary had accepted their complaint and assured a speedy investigation. “We expect a good result within a week. The Defence Secretary has informer the Navy Commander to inquire into the matter,” Dr. Jayatissa said. Dr. Jayatissa addressed his written complaint to the new Defence Secretary. Yoshitha Rajapaksa joined the Navy in 2006 as a cadet officer and received his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy where he was promoted to midshipman and appointed aide-de-camp to his father the President. (Colombo Gazette)