I have not renounced my US citizenship - Basil Rajapaksa

Basil Rajapaksa: Gotabaya Rajapaksa will win the upcoming presidential election with a lead of at least 10% of the total number of valid votes. We will win 7 of the nine provinces. We will win more than 120 electorates. When the next Poya dawns, a government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be in power. Journalist: Have you renounced your US citizenship? Basil Rajapaksa: No. I have not renounced my US citizenship. I have dual citizenship. This is why I cannot contest. In 1936, D.A. Rajapaksa contested for the election, while working in the paddy field with mud. Therefore, mud is not an issue for the son of D.A. Rajapaksa. Journalist: On one hand they accuse the ruling party of following an aligned foreign policy. On the other, your party's presidential candidate is currently facing an issue regarding his citizenship status, while you accept that you are still a US citizen. You are the coordinator of this election campaign. There is an element of contradiction. Basil Rajapaksa: At present, anyone can be a citizen of two or three countries. But my heart is in Sri Lanka. I live in Sri Lanka. I was even born in Sri Lanka. Journalist: When there are continuous issues and misunderstandings regarding the citizenship of your presidential candidate, do you not have the responsibility to request the National Election Commission to explain this matter to the general public?  However, up to date, you have not made such a request. Basil Rajapaksa: No. That's wrong. We have made a request to the NEC. But the NEC cannot express their views regarding the eligibility of a particular presidential candidate. They looked into the qualifying factors and accepted the nominations. Journalist: The accusations have raised several questions in the minds of the general public. Basil Rajapaksa: No. If the general public has any questions, Gotabaya Rajapaksa will receive an answer after the 16th. We trust that the general public has confidence in us.