Yoshitha promoted as temporary Lieutenant Commander

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was reinstated to the Navy after his suspension has been promoted as a temporary Lieutenant Commander yesterday (Oct 2), Sri Lanka Navy said.

Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Suriyabandara said that the promotion had been made with the approval of the Defence Ministry in line with the relevant laws.

"He (Yoshitha) will have to sit for a qualification exam to be made a permanent Lieutenant Commander," the Spokesman told Times Online.

The promotion comes in the wake of President Maithripala Sirisena's order, as a Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, last month to reinstate Rajapaksa to the Navy with effect from February 28, 2016.

His reinstatement to office would mean that he would receive his salaries and allowances from the date from which his re-appointment comes into effect.

Lieutenant Rajapaksa had been interdicted in 2016 following an investigation launched into the now-defunct Carlton Sports Network (CSN) which is believed to have had ties with the Rajapaksa family.