Sangakkara denies Rajapaksa sought his help

Christchurch, Dec 25 (IANS) Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara Thursday denied he was asked by President Mahinda Rajapakse to support him in the upcoming presidential election.

News reports have said that Rajapakse had requested the 37-year-old to support him but the wicket-keeper declined to do so. Rajapaksa then reportedly urged him to endorse him but Sangakkara said no to that too.

"I was very surprised and disappointed to hear of a story being circulated regarding the president offering me money to support his election campaign. I would like to categorically confirm that at no time whatsoever have I been asked by the president in any manner to be a part of his campaign," Sangakkara, who has featured in 128 Tests and 390 one-dayers, wrote on Facebook.

"These are just false stories concocted with malicious intent that are trying to use and abuse my name and I would like to request everyone to ignore them."