US Ambassador can make statements on Gota because he is a US citizen - Min. Rajitha Senaratne

A view allegedly expressed by the outgoing United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap to Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sparked a massive discussion across Sri Lanka. Over the past few days, several print media outlets had reported that the outgoing United States Ambassador had stated that the United States is against fielding Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a candidate for the 2020 Presidential Election. The Island newspaper reported: "Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap has told former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that his brother, Gotabhaya was very unpopular." The report was published quoting a spokesperson from the former President’s Office.

No official statement

The media division of the former President issued a media release, saying that it has not given an official statement regarding the meeting with the US Ambassador. Therefore, the former President's media division says, it "will not take responsibility for these news reports" The matter was also raised during the Cabinet media briefing yesterday (June 13). Watch the attached video for the exchange between Journalists and Cabinet Spokesperson Min. (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne.