Sri Lanka retracts report of Indo-Lanka Defence Committee

Colombo, Sep 9 (UNI) Sri Lankan government today withdrew a report which claimed last week that a top-level Indo-Lanka committee of high officials on defence related matters was established.

The President's office quoting diplomatic sources said in a statement on Thursday that the committee was the direct outcome of the discussions by a high-level Sri Lankan delegation, comprising Presidential Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gothabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa with the Indian counterparts in New Delhi, on September 3 and 4.

However, Sri Lanka today apologised to both the Sri Lankan and Indian delegations as well as the media for the incorrect report, claiming that it was a case of misinterpretation of information.

The PRIU (Policy Research and Information Unit of the president's office) was informed that there was no decision among those who participated in these discussions to establish an Indo-Lanka High Level Committee on defence as stated in our report, which was based on an incorrect interpretation of information on this matter, the PRIU said in a statement.

"The PRIU regrets this error and apologizes to the members of the Sri Lanka delegation and the Indian officials they had discussions with, and to the media, in this regard," the statement said.

The latest retraction came after local media reports said that India had not agreed to set up any joint defence committee with Sri Lanka.

UNI