VZCZCXRO5046
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #1803/01 3041058
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311058Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4589
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9532
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 6445
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 4497
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0120
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 6999
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0285
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 4831

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001803 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: FEARED VIOLENCE AT NEGOMBO AHMADI 
MOSQUE DOES NOT MATERIALIZE 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Embassy received a letter from a local 
Ahmadi leader expressing concern that his community was being 
targeted for violence and a possible take-over of the Negombo 
Ahmadi mosque by Jumma Muslims on October 31.  The US-based 
Ahmadi community also wrote letters to senators and to the 
State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom. 
 Staffers for Senators Chafee and Santorum requested that the 
Embassy follow up.  A senior political FSN went to Negombo 
October 26 and spoke to the police, who committed to 
protecting members of all communities.  The political FSN 
also spoke to members of the Jumma mosque, who objected to 
Ahmadi presence but said they sought to resolve the problem 
through &peaceful dialogue.8  The DCM sent a letter to the 
Deputy Inspector General of Police asking that police ensure 
the safety of the Ahmadi mosque and its leaders.  As of COB 
local time October 31, Ahmadi and police contacts in Negombo 
reported that no violence had come to pass.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Embassy received a letter dated October 17 from 
Mr. N.A.M. Zafarullah, president of Sri Lanka,s Ahmadiya 
community based in Negombo, 30 miles north of Colombo. 
Zafarullah wrote that the Ahmadi mosque in Negombo was under 
threat from a group of Pakistani Muslims who attend a 
neighboring mosque.  The letter reported the October 14 
murder of Ahmadi Niyas Ahmad, killed on his way to the 
mosque, and expressed concern that senior Ahmadi leaders 
would be targeted for violence.  Zafarullah also wrote that 
he expected a protest demonstration that could lead to a 
take-over of the Ahmadi mosque on October 31.  The US-based 
Ahmadi community wrote similar letters to senators and to the 
State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom. 
 On October 24, staffers for Senators Chafee and Santorum 
contacted the State Department to ask that Embassy Colombo 
follow up on the concerns.  On October 25, the Embassy 
responded by e-mail confirming that Mr. Ahmad had been killed 
and noting that we were gathering more information on the 
threat of further violence. 
 
¶3. (SBU) A senior political FSN went to Negombo October 26 to 
speak to police contacts about Ahmadi concerns that violence 
might erupt.  Negombo Police Headquarters Inspector O.W. 
Silva said that some persons associated with Negombo,s 
traditional Jumma mosque were anti-Ahmadi.  The police were 
unaware of any specific threats against the Ahmadi mosque, 
but assured pol FSN they would ensure the safety and security 
of members of all communities if any violence was to break 
out.  Commenting on the October 14 murder of Abdul Niyas 
Ahmad, Silva said no arrest has been made due to a lack of 
information. There were no eye-witnesses, and villagers were 
reluctant to discuss the case, Silva said.  However, he 
added, the investigation is still pending. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Pol FSN also met with Al-Haj A. M. Ziyad and 
Naushaard of Negombo,s Jumma mosque, who denied 
responsibility for the murder of Mr. Ahmad.  They did, 
however, express ideological disagreement with the Ahmadiyas, 
calling them a threat to Islam.  The Jumma mosque leaders 
said that during Friday prayers, they warn congregants to be 
cautious of the Amhadiya group who try to convert traditional 
Muslims by offering money or other benefits.  Ziyaf and 
Naushaard said that Jumma mosques throughout Sri Lanka have 
initiated &Anti-Ahmadiya programs8 requesting boycotts on 
trade, association, and inter-community marriages.  The 
Trustees of the Jumma mosque want the Ahmadi mosque to 
re-locate outside of Negombo town, and will invite the 
Ahmadiya group to a discussion on the topic.  Ziyaf and 
Naushaard hoped for &a peaceful dialogue8 to address core 
concerns of both groups.  The Jumma group is also planning to 
make a representation to the Government through Western 
Province Governor Alavi Moulana requesting that the Ahmadiya 
place of worship not be given legal status as a mosque. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Pol FSNs also spoke by phone to members of the 
Ahmadi community who reiterated the concerns from 
Zafarullah,s letter.  On October 26, the DCM sent a letter 
to the Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for the 
Negombo region.  The DCM forwarded the information from 
Zafarullah and requested that the police ensure the safety of 
the Negombo Ahmadi Mosque and its leaders.  As of late 
afternoon local time on October 31, Zafarullah and local 
police reported that all was calm at the Negombo Ahmadi 
Mosque. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: While members of the traditionalist Jumma 
 
COLOMBO 00001803  002 OF 002 
 
 
mosque in Negombo clearly disapprove of the Ahmadiya, their 
willingness to engage in dialogue and the peaceful passage of 
October 31 without the feared demonstration are encouraging 
signs.  We will continue to maintain dialogue with our 
contacts in Negombo and report on religious freedom issues 
when they arise.  End comment. 
BLAKE