Former Economic Development minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday admitted that there were excessive restrictions on human rights and individual freedom during the Rajapaksa administration. 

"Sometimes there were excesses. Incidents in Rathupaswala, Katunayake and Chillaw were examples. It is important to know that these things happened while the government was dealing with a brutal terrorist organization. But, individual freedom cannot and should not be compromised," Rajapaksa said. 

Addressing a meeting in the Galle district for Southern Province Local Government councilors of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party, Rajapaksa said such incidents should not happened under a future government. 

"Today, we live in a world that respects and protects human rights and freedom of expression," he said. 

He also asserted that individual freedom cannot be restricted in the name of national security. 

"There were some politicians who set election stages of the opposition on fire. On reflection, I think such incidents may have been conspiracies," Rajapaksa said.