VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0012/01 0041221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041221Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5057

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000012 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS/U.S. CBP/ CHARLES STALLWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON EWWT OTRA CE
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ERIC B. KING, 
CSI COUNTRY MANAGER, OFO, WASHINGTON D.C. 
 
REF: 281732Z 
 
¶1. Post grants country clearance to Eric B. King, 
Country Manager, OFO, Washington D.C. The purpose of 
his visit is to conduct an initial visit as the country 
manager with the CSI Team in Colombo, Sri Lanka from January 7-14, 
¶2007. Embassy control officer is Mr. Richard 
Merrin, Commercial Attache and Economic Officer, 
telephone no. (94-11) 249 8770, fax (94-11) 249 8820, 
email MerrinRC@state.gov. 
 
¶2. Post understands that no additional logistical 
arrangements are required. 
 
¶3. As far in advance of the visit as possible, visitors must provide 
specific details to the control officer of all support requirements 
they will need while at post.  Support 
requirements include procurement requests, motor pool usage, 
shipping assistance, and any and all other service 
requirements that will be needed upon arrival or during the 
visit. 
 
¶4. Political and security developments emerge quickly and 
frequently in Sri Lanka and the embassy is monitoring these 
developments.  The current unrest and spate of violent 
incidents in the northern and eastern part of the island has 
heightened tensions island-wide.  A Ceasefire Agreement signed 
between the Government of Sri Lanka and the insurgent Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2002 has been marred by increasing 
violence, which has recently included attacks involving civilians in 
the north and east of the country.  While foreigners have not in the 
past been targeted in the violence, it is still uncertain whether an 
August 14, 2006 bomb which hit the security detail of the Pakistani 
High Commissioner?s convoy was targeted at the High Commissioner or 
exclusively at GSL security forces.  Once you arrive in Sri Lanka, 
please make sure you register with the Consular Office so the 
Embassy can communicate any changes in the situation. As always, we 
urge you to be cautious and aware of your surroundings. 
 
¶5. TDY visitors to Sri Lanka who are coming for official 
business purposes must have a visa to enter Sri Lanka, whether they 
are traveling on diplomatic, official or tourist passports.  Post 
will be able to assist in arranging airport visas only for those 
passengers who are arriving from a country in which there is no Sri 
Lanka Embassy.  If there is a Sri Lanka embassy in your country of 
residence, please arrange for a visa through that Embassy.  All 
travelers must send to Letitia DeSilva (DeSilvaL@State.Gov) and the 
control officer (Richard Merrin (MerrinRC@state.gov)), the following 
information:  Full Name, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Passport 
Number, Place of Issue, Date of Issue, Expiration Date, length of 
stay in Sri Lanka and country from which you will be applying for 
the visa.  The Embassy will send a diplomatic note to the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs and the MFA will instruct the Sri Lanka Embassy 
to issue the visa.  This 
process may take up to two weeks. 
 
¶6. Travel by Official Americans to the North and East of Sri Lanka 
has been restricted until further notice.  Any travel to these areas 
requires prior approval by the Ambassador (or the Charge in his 
absence). 
 
¶7. Travelers should exercise caution when working in and near 
Government facilities and avoid large gatherings due to the threat 
of a potential terrorist incident.  Petty crime is common in Colombo 
and travelers should avoid using public transportation other than 
radio or hotel taxis.  Travelers should keep money or jewelry, when 
not in immediate use, in hotel safe deposit boxes.  Recent cases of 
credit card fraud have been reported.  Travelers are encouraged to 
either pay with cash or to watch when a merchant swipes the card for 
a transaction to ensure it is not swiped more than once. 
 
¶8. All TDY personnel must check in with the Regional Security 
Officer on their first working day in Colombo to receive a security 
briefing and an update regarding the terrorist threat.  Please 
coordinate with your control officer to schedule this briefing. 
Visitors requiring access to classified information while visiting 
post MUST forward their security clearance via cable to the RSO. 
Again, for emergency contact purposes, all official visitors are 
required to register, in person, at the Embassy's Consular Section, 
on their first working day or as soon thereafter as practicable. 
 
¶9. Travelers whose security orientation training is not 
current are strongly urged to participate in one of the NFATC 
security overseas seminars for TDY personnel before travel 
commences. 
 
¶10. An Embarkation Tax of SLR 1,500 is required.  This tax is 
normally included in the airline ticket charges and travelers should 
verify the tax has been included. 
 
¶11. Visitors to the Embassy wishing to access their OpenNet e-mail 
from their home post should inform their control officer before 
departure.  If access to e-mail is necessary, visitors should have 
their control officer provide the Colombo ISC office with the 
following information at least five working days in advance of their 
arrival at post: -- visitor's first name, middle initial and last 
name, arrival date at post, departure date at post, visitor's home 
OpenNet Exchange Server Name, the Exchange IP Address and the Domain 
Name. The contact 
e-mail address for Colombo ISC office is: ColomboISCHelpDesk (SMTP: 
ColomboISCHelpDesk@state.gov).  Colombo's ISC office will create the 
guest account and set it up for email access.  When the visitor 
arrives at post, they will need to check in with the Colombo ISC 
office (Room 134) to sign for a User ID and Password.  The Colombo 
ISC office staff will review with the visitor the steps for 
accessing their home e-mail. 
 
¶12. The Embassy Health Unit suggests that all TDY employees in Sri 
Lanka for more than 14 days schedule a briefing with the Foreign 
Service Health Practitioner (FSHP).  Also, your 
control officer can arrange for an electronic version of the Colombo 
Health Booklet to be sent to you via email.  Please be advised that 
while in Sri Lanka, you cannot use your American health insurance 
for health care received from local providers, laboratories, and 
hospitals.  You can obtain receipts for care received in country to 
submit to your health insurance plan for reimbursement.  Some 
facilities will accept credit card payment, but most require cash. 
Arrangements for deferring payment for emergency care are possible 
if arranged through the Health Unit, but you must clear all bills 
for health services received outside of the Health Unit prior to 
leaving Sri Lanka. 
 
BLAKE