He stated this today (07) in Parliament in response  to a statement made by UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardane with regard to a news item that appeared in a weekend newspaper.  According to the news item, the government has reduced the security detail of five hundred personnel of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gunawardena said.

Kiriella, responding to Gunawardena's claims, said He never had 500 personnel assigned for his security detail in the first place and  therefore the story had no basis.

Kiriella reiterated that the security of the former President has not been reduced in any way - as assured in the House repeatedly over the past 10 months.