President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that the Government has not entered into any political deal with parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen.

The clarification from the President came days after Bathiudeen was photographed with Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and other Government politicians at an event leading to speculation he is being courted to win support in Parliament for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill.

“I emphasise that our Government has not entered into any political deal with Parliament member Rishad Bathiudeen. I assure my citizens that I will not forsake the trust that they have placed in me and I will most certainly continue to work towards strengthening the built trust,” President said in a post on his official Facebook. 

“Ensuring national security is the first and foremost responsibility of my Government. I am not prepared to hand over the power of arresting or arbitrarily releasing people to politicians, as happened in the past. I will also take actions to rectify any omissions or mistakes made by the relevant authorities or officials,” Rajapaksa added.

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