Yoshitha’s course fee borne by Ukraine Marsh

Monday, 06 April 2015

It is a punishable offence under the bribery or corruption investigation act that the former president’s son, Navy Lt. Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s one year course fee at the National University of Defence Academy of Ukraine had been borne by Ukraine Marsh, the controversial Ukrainian MiG supplier.

Yoshitha followed the master’s diploma at the academy from 29 October 2009 to 31 August 2010. The coordinator for that was Udayanga Weeratunga, Yoshitha’s uncle and the then ambassador in Russia as well as the Sri Lankan agent for Ukraine Marsh. During that period, the Sri Lankan government had paid an allowance, transport expenses and a telephone allowance for Yoshitha.

According to sources, Ukraine Marsh had even borne the transport expenses of Yoshitha. The financial fraud investigation division of the police is investigating the MiG deal in 2005, and has recorded a statement from the then Air Force commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonatilake. He has said that the entire deal was done by the defence ministry. The AF had only checked the technical suitability of the aircraft and issue certificates, he has said.