Sri Lanka, Nov. 3 -- United National Party General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has denied giving any letter to his relatives to secure a position as a representative of the National Lotteries Board. He made the statement during a media briefing held in Colombo on November 1.

Kariyawasam said the chairman of the National Lotteries Board recently made a defamatory remark alleging that his cousin was appointed as a district representative without paying a large sum due to the board. He criticized the chairman for making such claims, noting that he is not a politician or minister but a candidate in the upcoming local government election.

"The letter was given to someone named Ajith Priyantha to operate from the main office in Galgamuw...