Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the Government will never seek the support of MP Rishad Bathiudeen to pass the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage was speaking at a media briefing at the Mahindananda Foundation, Nawalapitiya yesterday.

He said that the Opposition makes false allegations that the Government released Rishad Bathiudeen's brother to get the support for the 20th Amendment, but the Government has no interest in getting his support. Aluthgamage said that Rishad Bathiudeen supported extremists and corrupt dealings during the Yahapalana regime, and Bathiudeen or any of his associates will never be included in the Government under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

He said that a group of Sajith Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balawega (SJB) alleges that Bathiudeen will be taken into the Government. Bathiudeen was in Parliament with this group, Aluthgamage said. He said that the Government does not hold meetings at Temple Trees and arrest people like the previous Government did.