LEN - www.lankaenews.com | Investigative Report: Systemic Violations and Privilege During Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s Naval Training..!

Investigative Report: Systemic Violations and Privilege During Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s Naval Training..!

-By Ruwan Weerakoon

(Lanka-e-News -2026.June.20, 5.30 PM) New testimonies from senior naval officers and batchmates present a stark picture of how standard military discipline, training protocols, and state resources were allegedly compromised to accommodate and protect the former President’s second son during his time as a cadet officer.

1. Subversion of Core Naval and Sea Training

To qualify as an Executive Officer in the Sri Lanka Navy, undergoing rigorous sea training aboard a Fast Attack Craft (Dvora) or an ocean-going vessel is mandatory. Yoshitha Rajapaksa allegedly bypassed these critical milestones:

Evading the War Zone: Senior training officers reveal that despite the war being at its peak, Yoshitha only went out to sea a single time.

Command Intervention: It is alleged that former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda explicitly instructed academy instructors not to allocate dangerous sea training duties to Yoshitha.

Failure in Technical Competency: Due to his prolonged absences, Yoshitha reportedly failed to complete core military competencies, including Map Reading and Radar Monitoring.

2. Isolation from Cadet Life and Unprecedented Privileges

Military academies operate on strict egalitarian principles to build discipline and camaraderie, yet Yoshitha’s lifestyle at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee completely defied these traditions:

VIP Accommodation: While standard cadets were restricted to shared billets, Yoshitha never lived with his batchmates and never dined at the Officers' Mess. Instead, he was given a private Navy bungalow.

The "Water Bowser" Incident: On one occasion, Yoshitha reportedly complained to the Navy Commander that the drinking water in Trincomalee had an unappealing taste. In response, Admiral Karannagoda allegedly ordered a dedicated water bowser to be dispatched exclusively for Yoshitha’s use whenever he was stationed at the eastern base.

Discipline Mockery: While standard cadets were strictly confined to the camp for two years—granted leave only under exceptional circumstances—Yoshitha frequently spent his time in Colombo. Furthermore, during mandatory jogging sessions in Trincomalee, his military instructor was reportedly made to carry Yoshitha's personal mobile phone behind him.

3. Misuse of Public Funds and Air Assets

While ordinary servicemen risked their lives traveling through high-threat land routes, Yoshitha utilized elite state infrastructure for routine travel. He regularly commuted between Colombo and the Trincomalee Naval Base using Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopters, incurring massive expenses funded entirely by the taxpayer.

Personal Security: Three Presidential Security Division (PSD) officers were deployed for him even at the Naval Academy.

Rugby Abuse; While Yoshitha was playing rugby, naval personnel were ordered to go and watch the matches and cheer for him. The personnel were even stopped from going on leave and were forcibly taken to the stadiums where the matches were being held in naval vehicles and forced to cheer for him.

4. Examination Frauds

During the written examinations for the cadet course, internal examiners were allegedly subjected to high-level political and institutional influence. Marks were manipulated to ensure Yoshitha passed the theoretical components of his naval degree despite his chronic absenteeism.

5. The Fabricated "Nayaru Sea Battle" for State Television

One of the most severe allegations involves the staging of a fake battle during the height of active hostilities against the LTTE Sea Tigers, purely for political propaganda.

The Propaganda Plot: While the Dvora Squadron was actively engaging Sea Tigers in the volatile waters off Nayaru, Admiral Karannagoda arrived in Trincomalee and ordered all active combat boats to return and anchor in the harbor.

The Fake Exercise: Accompanied by Yoshitha and a state-run Rupavahini television camera crew, the Admiral addressed the officers, directing them to sail into a secure, threat-free zone to stage a mock battle against a fictional LTTE target.

The Presidential Order: The Navy Commander openly stated he had received direct orders from the "highest authority"—President Mahinda Rajapaksa—to pull off this stunt. The objective was to broadcast footage to the Sri Lankan public proving that the President's son was on the frontlines fighting terrorists.

The Outcome: According to eyewitness accounts from his batchmates, the propaganda operation ultimately failed to achieve its desired effect because Yoshitha was noticeably terrified during the simulated exercise.

Summary of Institutional Impact

The collective evidence suggests that Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s naval career was characterized by a parallel system of rules. From helicopter commutes and private water bowsers to rigged exams and staged battles, these actions fundamentally undermined the meritocracy, discipline, and honor code of the Sri Lanka Navy during a critical period of national wartime security.