Sri Lanka Navy To Probe Former President’s Son’s Appointment To Navy

29/01/2015 

The Sri Lanka Navy is to commence a probe in to the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son, Navy Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa.

The Defense Ministry has sent a letter to the Navy Commander asking the navy to probe how Yoshitha entered the Sri Lanka Navy and his conduct.

Navy Spokesperson Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya has said that the Navy Commander has received a letter from the Defense Secretary to probe the former First Son.

The Spokesperson has also said that the resignation letter presented by Yoshitha Rajapaksa has not been accepted by the Navy Commander and that the lieutenant is currently assigned to the Sri Lanka Navy headquarters.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna on Monday (26) handed a complaint to the Defense Secretary seeking a probe on Yoshitha Rajapaksa on how he joined the Navy, how he was granted overseas scholarships and his active involvement in politics and other activities while serving as a naval office

Presidential Secretariat Expenses Had Reached An All-Time High In 2014!

January 30, 2015 

Figures revealed regarding the annual expenses of the Presidential Secretariat during the Rajapaksa regime reveals that it had reached an all-time high last year.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake during the 2015 interim budget reading last afternoon revealed that the annual expenses of the Presidential Secretariat which was at Rs. 6,340 million in 2009 had been escalated to an all-time high of Rs. 104,970 million in 2014.

According to the figures released by Minister Karunanayake, the expenses are as follows:
2009 – Rs.     6,340 million
2010 – Rs.     7,650 million
2011 – Rs.   50,630 million
2012 – Rs.   59,360 million
2013 – Rs.   82,440 million
2014 – Rs. 104,970 million

He also said the estimated cost for the Presidential Secretariat had been calculated to be Rs. 95,930 million but added it has been cut down to Rs. 2560 million under the instructions of President Sirisena.

It is no surprise that the expenses would rise to such exorbitant amounts, as it has been revealed that the fleet of vehicles owned by the Secretariat had been 749. About 80 of them have been discovered by the Police in several locations and investigations have commenced into 65 of them.