Former Defence Secretary and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday insisted that he will ensure democracy is protected, if he is elected president. Speaking at the Sri Lanka People’s Youth Front National Convention at Nelum Pokuna, Rajapaksa denied claims that he posed a threat to media freedom when he was the Defence Secretary. Rajapaksa said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa government had ensured freedom of speech after the war and also took steps to establish the Northern Provincial Council. “Mahinda Rajapaksa stands for media freedom, so under his government, this will be assured,” Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. Rajapaksa said that after the war, steps were taken to improve the infrastructure facilities in the North and East. The former Defence Secretary said that under a SLPP government, steps will be taken to ensure the people in the North and East, especially the youths, live a better life. He also urged the Tamils in the North and East not to fall prey to the political agendas of some parties in war-affected areas and instead join hands with him to rebuild the country as a whole.