President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said he was not in agreement with the Election Commission's decision to suspend the training programme for newly-employed graduates until the end of the election.

Speaking to media heads and newspaper editors, President Rajapaksa said the graduates received their letters of appointment before the election was declared.

The President said he embarked on the programme without any political intentions.

Rajapaksa said he intended to discuss the matter further with the Elections Commission.