Sri Lankan Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya has backtracked from statements made by him at an event in Kurunegala.
According to the Daily Mirror the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Army has said there was an error on the Sri Lankan Army website in regards to his speech and has amended it accordingly.
Jagath Jayasuriya was first reported to have said that President Rajapakse personally gave him a call instructing him to 'complete the operations as planned'.
See both paragraphs below:
Original:
“I still remember, the President, personally giving me a call instructing me to pursue the operations as planned, though he remained under enormous pressure to stop it. It was the country’s political leadership that gave strength to us to be successful.”
Amended:
“HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined and did not give in to pressures of the international community when the Wanni humanitarian operations were entering decisive phases around April 2009. I still remember, HE the President, telling me that he remained under enormous international pressure.”
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