January 18, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 14, 1423

COLOMBO, Jan 17: In a statement which many described as shocking, Minister of Defence Thilak Marapana said on Thursday that some adverse reports by the Government military intelligence reports regarding the LTTE were ‘incorrect’ and therefore had put the government into a ‘difficult’ position.

The statement was issued to the national media consequent to a high powered meeting held at the prime ministers office with the top military brass.

The main reason for this meeting and the press statement is understood to be the controversial reports regarding the abduction and interrogation of a government military intelligence officer of Tamil ethnicity two weeks ago.