Gotabaya says he applied the US embassy to cancel his dual citizenship

Former Defence Secretary Gotabya Rajapaksa said the recent news that he is about to contest at the forthcoming General Election is a hoax.

“This has nothing to do with my citizenship issue,” he said, adding that however he has already taken measures to cancel his dual citizenship. “I’ve already handed over the relevant documents to the US embassy, in this regard” he said.  

He told Ada Derana that he has no intention to contest at the election and enter the parliament. “There is no need to get elected as a parliamentarian to serve the country,” he added.

Earlier, the former Defence Secretary also dismissed media reports that he would enter parliament through the National List and be a minister in the Rajapaksa government.

It was also reported that former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa likely will not contest at the election as well. A source close to the UPFA says that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has also not yet decided whether to contest or not at the polls.