VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0639 1100915
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200915Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3165

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
CODEL 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID OREP CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA:  CODEL ENZI CALLS ON PRESIDENT 
RAJAPAKSA, VISITS ASSISTANCE PROJECTS 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In an April 14 visit to Sri Lanka, 
Senators Michael Enzi, Lamar Alexander and Johnny Isakson, 
their spouses, staff and Terrell Halaska, Assistant Secretary 
of the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, 
Department of Education, observed US-funded humanitarian 
demining training, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 
his family home in the southwestern district of Hambantota 
and accompanied him to the opening of a housing site for 
tsunami victims, and toured a just-opened USAID playground in 
 
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Hambantota town.  The President told the Senators he retained 
hope that the insurgent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE) would still agree to meet representatives of the 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) for talks in Geneva later in 
the month.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (U)  CODEL Enzi, accompanied by the Ambassador and USAID 
Mission Director, began its visit to Sri Lanka with a 
helicopter trip to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Humanitarian 
Demining School in Embilipitiya in the south-central district 
of Ratnapura where a NADR-funded program, through a contract 
with RONCO Consulting Corporation, has been training SLA 
engineers in demining since 2003.  The CODEL observed a 
training session with mine-detecting dogs, one of which, 
appropriately named "Wyoming," was donated to the Sri Lankan 
program via Mrs. Diana Enzi's efforts with the Children 
Against the Mine Problem (CHAMPS) program. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The CODEL then flew to President Mahinda 
Rajapaksa's family home in Weeraketiya in the southwestern 
district of Hambantota.  (Like many Sri Lankans, the 
President returns to his "ancestral village" to celebrate the 
Sinhala New Year, which fell on April 13.)  Senator Enzi 
offered greetings on behalf of the American people to Sri 
Lankans on the occasions of the Sinhala and Hindu New Years 
(April 13 and 14 respectively). The CODEL discussed 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) efforts to engage with the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in ceasefire talks. 
President Rajapaksa noted that the LTTE had abruptly pulled 
out of talks previously scheduled to be held in Geneva April 
19-21, adding that Norwegian facilitators had said the Tigers 
had asked for a week's delay to move cadres from the east to 
the north.  Rajapaksa asserted he did not understand the need 
for the delay--he commented that the LTTE merely wanted to 
move some of its "fighters" to the north--but said the 
Norwegians might be able to reschedule the talks for a week 
later.  (Note:  Talks have tentatively been rescheduled for 
April 24-25 in Geneva.  It is not yet clear whether the 
Tigers will participate.)  The CODEL discussed with the 
President the educational challenges Sri Lanka is facing, 
particularly the need for qualified English teachers, and 
USAID Mission Director Carol Becker briefed the gathering on 
USAID efforts to promote education. 
 
¶4.  (U)  At the President's invitation, the CODEL accompanied 
him to the opening of a project (not US-funded) that provides 
houses to 100 tsunami-affected families in a nearby town. 
The CODEL then traveled to the opening of a playground funded 
by USAID, in partnership with the American Jewish Joint 
Distribution Committee and the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief 
Fund, in the neighboring city of Tangalle.  The playground is 
one of 85 USAID, with its local implementing partner 
Sarvodaya, is constructing to benefit children in 
tsunami-affected communities.  To implement the USD 2 million 
 
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project, USAID and Sarvodaya work closely with the Ministry 
of Local Governments, local municipalities and members of 
tsunami-affected communities to ensure community support, 
 
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multi-ethnic participation, appropriate placement of the 
parks and regular maintenance. 
 
¶5.  (U) CODEL Enzi did not have an opportunity to clear this 
cable. 
LUNSTEAD