VZCZCXYZ0020
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #1349/01 2741118
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011118Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6896
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 5558
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4046
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1411
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4102
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1202
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3188
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8014
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2345
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0640
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001349 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR A/S BOUCHER, P, F AND S/CRS 
ALSO FOR INL/AAE, DRL/NESCA, PRM/ANE, STATE FOR SCA/INS, 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
DEPT PASS TO USAID/ANE, USAID/DC, USAID/CMM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2017 
TAGS: PGOV EAID CE
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ON 
STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION IN EASTERN SRI LANKA 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO 1208 
 
     ¶B. COLOMBO 1318 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Ambassador met on September 28 with Basil 
Rajapaksa, the President's brother, senior political advisor, 
and coordinator of the stabilization and reconstruction 
program in the east, to discuss the opportunities and risks 
in the east (reftels).  Rajapaksa acknowledged the need to 
stop illegal activities by Karuna. He asserted that District 
Secretaries, Government Agents, and Provincial Councils are 
 
SIPDIS 
now managing all of the stabilization and reconstruction 
efforts in the east and highlighted the appointment of 
civil-military liaison officers for the districts of 
Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara. He also stated that the 
GSL is sensitive to Tamil and Muslim concerns of 
Sinhalization in the east, will share its plans for the High 
Security Zone south of Trincomalee with the World Bank and 
other donors, and is consulting with NGO as well as Tamil and 
Muslim community representatives on its overall development 
plans for the east. (The GSL has yet to share any plans on 
the east with donors.)  A respected senior local NGO 
representative later told us that Basil Rajapaksa has good 
intentions, but lacks the experience to manage the 
stabilization and reconstruction efforts in the east.  The 
NGO representative suggested to Basil that: a) NGOs and 
international NGOs work on a plan for short and medium term 
needs to complement the GSL's longer term infrastructure 
plans; and b) the GSL ask the international community to fund 
or detail an humanitarian expert to help Basil manage the 
reconstruction effort.  Both suggestions strike us as useful 
ways to bring greater order and community as well as NGO 
participation into a process that has thus far been a 
top-down Colombo-centered effort.  End summary. 
 
Establish GSL Responsibility for Security, Reduce Role of 
Military 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Ambassador opened by congratulating Basil on 
his appointment as an MP.  He asked about the veracity of 
widespread rumors that the President now intended to appoint 
him as Minister of Nation Building (a portfolio now held by 
the President himself but already de-facto in Basil's hands). 
 Rajapaksa laughed and said that was up to the President. 
Turning to substance, the Ambassador explained the 
significant opportunity the GSL now has in the east, but also 
the risks (reftels).  Ambassador noted the importance of the 
GSL assuming complete control for security in the east 
stopping all illegal Karuna group activities and effecting an 
orderly transition from military to civilian rule.  He 
described continuing reports the Embassy has received from 
NGOs of looting and stealing by Karuna cadres, as well as 
continued harassment of NGOs and the local population.  Such 
activities undercut the efforts of the Government to 
stabilize the east.  Rajapaksa did not dispute the 
Ambassador's reports, but did note that the GSL is aware of 
the problem and making efforts to stop illegal activities by 
Karuna cadres. 
 
¶3. (SBU) With respect to the wider challenge of transitioning 
to civilian rule, Rajapaksa explained that the Members of 
Parliament from the Tamil National Alliance and others who 
complain about the role of the military dismiss the progress 
that has been made.  He complained that the TNA MPs never 
come to the east and do not spend the allotments allocated to 
them for local development projects so they do not know the 
real situation and seek only to criticize.  He asserted that 
the government District Secretaries, Government Agents, and 
Provincial Councils are now managing all of the stabilization 
and reconstruction efforts in the east with the military 
responsible only for security. He also pointed out that the 
 
government had appointed civil military liaison officers for 
the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara, whose 
job was to liaise with local and international NGOs and 
reduce obstacles to their operations.  The Ambassador 
welcomed the appointment of the civilian military liaison 
officers and said that their names had been disseminated 
widely in the NGO community.  He told Rajapaksa candidly that 
even though the overt military presence was indeed 
diminishing, many retired military officers where being 
chosen to fill civilian positions, so the military's 
influence remains strong. 
 
Avoid Steps that Alter Ethnic/Demographic Balance 
and Consult Local Communities More 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the Embassy continues to 
receive reports from many sources that the government is 
engaged in efforts to promote Sinhalization in Tamil and 
Muslim areas in the East.  He urged the GSL to consult with 
Tamil and Muslim community leaders in the East on all of its 
development plans, so that the reconstruction and development 
process can be conducted in an inclusive and democratic 
manner.  Rajapaksa responded that the GSL is sensitive to the 
fears of the Tamil and Muslim communities and does not seek 
to promote policies that favor Sinhalese over the other two 
communities.  He said that he was hosting a meeting that very 
afternoon with NGOs and international NGOs to discuss plans 
for the East.  Furthermore, the Government planned to have 
tripartite consultations between the central government, NGO 
representatives and local political representatives (Members 
of Parliament, Provincial Councils, and local Pradeshiya 
Sabhas) to review sectoral plans.  (See para 6 below for 
feedback on this first meeting that was held.) 
 
Publicize Plans for Sampur High Security Zone 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  The Ambassador urged the government to publicize 
its plans for the high-security zone south of Trincomalee 
explaining that there remains great anxiety in the NGO, 
Tamil, and Muslim communities about the government's plans. 
Rajapaksa stated that the people who originally lived in HSZ 
areas should not be worried.  The government is in the 
process of resettling the original inhabitants.  He noted, 
however, that the government was reluctant to publish a plan 
for fear that the LTTE would pressure local inhabitants not 
to return.  When pressed he said he would be willing to share 
the plan on a confidential basis with the World Bank, EU, and 
other donors who will be helping reconstruction efforts in 
the area.  On the sensitive question of how disputes over 
land would be resolved, Rajapaksa said the GSL would make use 
of local land registries, voter lists and lists maintained by 
divisional secretaries of village inhabitants who had 
received any kind of government benefits.  If IDPs did not 
have their own land titles, then these other records would 
help to prove their land claims. 
 
Meeting with NGOs 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Embassy subsequently contacted a respected senior 
Sri Lankan NGO official for a readout of the meeting 
Rajapaksa chaired on the afternoon of September 28 (para 4). 
The official stated that Basil Rajapaksa has good intentions, 
but neither he or any of his assistants are experienced in 
development work and have not hired people that might be able 
to help.  He said that the meeting had consisted of 
presentations from many of the 36 ministries working in the 
East, but there was no integrated plan with the government's 
overall strategy.  The official said that he and other NGO 
leaders had recommended several steps that would help. 
First, they suggested that the government needs to 
distinguish between short and medium term needs to help IDPs 
and others restart livelihoods, and longer term plans.  He 
suggested that the international community work with NGOs and 
international NGOs to develop a plan for short and medium 
term needs, while the government focus on longer term 
infrastructure and other needs.  Rajapaksa agreed to both 
suggestions.  The World Bank and EU will be approached to see 
if either or both can lead the first effort.  The official 
also suggested that Rajapaksa request the international 
community to detail or fund a humanitarian expert to 
Rajapaksa's office, both to advise him on the reconstruction 
and stabilization process, and to help coordinate 
consultations with NGOs and local representatives.  Rajapaksa 
will consider this suggestion. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) This was a useful meeting to discuss candidly with 
Rajapaksa, the person most directly in charge of the East, 
the concerns many have about the government's plans in the 
east.  As our NGO interlocutor stated, Rajapaksa appears to 
have good intentions, but lacks the experience to manage this 
important task alone.  The suggestions to have NGOs and INGOs 
work on a plan for short and medium term needs to complement 
the GSL's longer term infrastructure plans, and hire an 
experienced humanitarian expert, strike us as useful ways to 
bring greater order and community as well as NGO 
participation into a process that has thus far been a 
top-down Colombo-centered effort. 
 
 
BLAKE