State Minister Harsha de Silva said defamatory handbills against SLPP candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had been distributed in his area without his knowledge.

"Had I known, I would never have approved it," De Silva said, addressing a press conference yesterday.

"I have always made policy arguments and I unconditionally apologize to all who were inconvenienced," de Silva said.

Local Government councilors representing the SLPP lodged a police complaint last evening that several close allies of de Silva were involved in distributing mud-slinging handbills against the SLPP candidate.