VZCZCXRO6620
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #1689/01 3541200
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201200Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7391
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4191
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1671
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4201
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 1237
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3297
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8195
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5769
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 0490
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2511
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0719
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001689 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
AID/W PLEASE PASS USAID/OFDA, USAID/ANE, USAID/CMM 
KATHMANDU FOR OFDA REGIONAL ADVISOR WILLIAM BERGER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC PREL CE
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT ISSUES PUBLIC STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF 
UN AT REQUEST OF DONORS 
 
REF: COLOMBO 1652 
 
 ¶1.  Summary: At the urging of the U.S., EU and UN in Sri 
Lanka, the Government of Sri Lanka issued a public statement 
on December 15 expressing its "support for, and confidence 
in, United Nations operations in Sri Lanka" and "the efforts 
of the international agencies in humanitarian assistance and 
development work in the country, stating that their efforts 
have greatly contributed to the welfare of the people of Sri 
Lanka."  Comment:  This statement provides a clear message of 
GSL support that the UN hopes will help reduce difficulties 
its employees and its field operations are experiencing in 
exercising their mandate. However, further criticism is 
likely to be a continuing issue as nationalistic parties such 
as the JVP and their supporters in Government are skeptical 
of the motivation of the UN and INGOs who provide 
humanitarian assistance to conflict victims and other needy 
residents in LTTE-controlled areas. End Comment and Summary. 
 
 
¶2.  Reftel reported that relations between the United Nations 
and the Government of Sri Lanka deteriorated further in the 
last month as a result of groundless accusations by the JVP 
that UNICEF had supported the LTTE through contributions of 
money, food rations and vehicles.  In a separate incident, 
the GSL voiced strong objection to a statement by UNESCO 
Director General Koichiro Matsuura condemning the Sri Lankan 
military's attack on the Voice of Tigers (VOT) radio station. 
 
¶3.  At the monthly meeting on December 13 of the Consultative 
Committee on Humanitarian Assistance chaired by Minister of 
Disaster Management and Human Rights Samarasinghe and Defense 
Secretary Rajapaksa, Ambassador urged that the GSL issue a 
 
SIPDIS 
public statement expressing its support for the work of the 
UN in Sri Lanka.  Ambassador noted that that the UNICEF 
controversy had affected adversely not only UN operations, 
but also those of international NGOs.  He reported that in a 
meeting on December 12, international NGO representatives had 
told the Embassy that as a result of the tensions with the 
UN, Tamil staff of INGOs were being stopped more frequently 
at military checkpoints and felt increasingly vulnerable. 
One NGO reported experiencing difficulties hiring new local 
staff because of the danger potential recruits felt they 
might be exposed to.  The Ambassador urged that the GSL issue 
a high-level public statement noting that it had investigated 
the allegations against UNICEF, found no evidence of 
wrong-doing, and express its strong support for the work of 
UN agencies and INGOs in Sri Lanka.  EU Head of Mission 
Wilson and UN Resident Representative Buhne made similar 
appeals. 
 
¶4.  Samarasinghe and Rajapaksa agreed to issue a statement 
and asked the donors to provide a draft.  After an exchange 
of drafts and comments, the Government issued the following 
statement on December 15: 
 
Government and International Donors express support for UN 
operations in Sri Lanka 
 
At the monthly meeting of the Consultative Committee on 
Humanitarian Assistance (CCHA) chaired by Minister of 
Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, on 
Thursday (13 December), the CCHA reiterated its support for, 
and confidence in, United Nations operations in Sri Lanka. 
Associated with the Minister at the meeting were heads of UN 
and multilateral agencies, heads of Diplomatic Missions 
including US Ambassador Robert Blake representing the 
Co-Chairs and EU Ambassador Julian Wilson, the Secretary to 
the Ministry of Defense, Public Security and Law and Order 
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other key government stakeholders. 
 
Minister Samarasinghe stated that the Government, and the 
CCHA in particular, appreciates the efforts of the 
international agencies in humanitarian assistance and 
development work in the country, stating that their efforts 
 
COLOMBO 00001689  002 OF 002 
 
 
have greatly contributed to the welfare of the people of Sri 
Lanka.  He stressed, however, that the Government has the 
right to fully investigate any allegations of misconduct. 
The CCHA had agreed upon an approach based on the party 
accused of such misconduct being given the opportunity to put 
forward its case and that, until all investigations are 
concluded, parties shall refrain from issuing any public 
statements.  Such an investigation is currently under way to 
investigate allegations against one Agency and the Government 
will wait for the outcome of the decision. 
 
The International Donor Members of the CCHA including 
Ambassadors Blake and Wilson welcomed this expression of 
support and the government's position on the investigation of 
allegations.  The international donor members also reiterated 
their full confidence in the UN, Red Cross and I/NGO 
agencies, their mandates and committed staff members.  They 
pointed out that the programs implemented by the UN are 
approved by and often implemented with the relevant 
Government Ministries and district/divisional offices of the 
Government. 
 
In the collaborative spirit of the CCHA, the Chair on behalf 
of Government stakeholders and international members decided 
to place their position before the Sri Lankan public to 
emphasize the positive and fruitful relationship that exists 
between Sri Lanka and the UN. 
 
¶5.  Comment:  This is a welcome statement.  It provides a 
clear message of GSL support that the UN hopes will help 
reduce difficulties its employees are experiencing in 
exercising their mandate.  This is likely to be a continuing 
issue, however, as nationalistic parties such as the JVP and 
their supporters in Government are skeptical of the 
motivations of the UN and INGOs who provide humanitarian 
assistance to conflict victims and other needy residents in 
LTTE-controlled areas.  The GSL declined to mention UNICEF in 
its statement as that investigation is ongoing.  UNICEF and 
the UN vigorously deny any wrong-doing and are confident the 
GSL's investigation will conclude the same. 
BLAKE