VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0489/01 1421122
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211122Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8149

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000489 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA AND SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER
SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING 05/21/2008 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO 475 
     ¶B. RSO DS SPOT REPORT DATED 05/16/2008 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) meeting on May 21, 2008.  The EAC 
discussed post's security posture in light of the most recent 
bombing incident in Colombo (refs A and B). The EAC 
recommended that Embassy personnel use routes that minimize 
exposure to likely LTTE targets and that personnel traveling 
to Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) facilities for business 
purposes use armored vehicles (AVs) whenever possible.  The 
EAC recommended that agencies that do not currently provide 
AVs and that do not use post's motorpool should make every 
effort to provide AVs for their personnel.  The EAC also 
considered the security situation in the East, following the 
recent Provincial Council elections.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On Friday, May 16, 2008, a vehicle-borne improvised 
explosive device, triggered by a suicide bomber, targeted a 
bus carrying police officers (refs A and B).  The attack 
occurred on Lotus Road, in the Fort district of Colombo, near 
the Hilton Hotel.  A Presidential Management Fellow 
(hereafter referred to as an intern), on temporary assignment 
with post's Political Section, passed through the area 
moments before the attack occurred.  The intern heard the 
blast, saw debris falling down onto the street and observed 
victims fleeing the scene.  She was the first person to 
report the incident to the Embassy.  Fortunately, neither she 
nor any other American citizens sustained injuries. The 
method of attack, by a suicide bomber aboard an 
explosive-laden motorcycle, bore the mark of the LTTE.  The 
blast killed 11 people and injured close to 90 others. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On May 21, 2008, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an EAC 
meeting.  (Note: The EAC met after the long Vasak holiday 
weekend following the Friday blast.)  Present for the meeting 
were the Ambassador, DCM, RSO, MED, MGT, IBB, RAO, POL, CON, 
PD, ECON, USAID, CSI, and MSG.  The agenda items for the 
meeting were: 
 
--Measures to take to enhance post's security posture in 
light of the most recent attack; and 
 
--The security situation in the Eastern Province after 
elections for the new Provincial Council and the selection of 
TMVP leader "Pillaiyan" as Chief Minister for the Eastern 
Province. 
 
¶4. (SBU) RSO observed that the main threat to USG personnel 
remains being in proximity to an LTTE attack on a principal 
target (high-profile GSL personnel or facility) - that is, 
the threat remains "being in the wrong place at the wrong 
time."  The May 16 incident highlighted that threat.  The EAC 
reviewed available information and agreed that, while there 
have been some incidents in the Fort district, attacks have 
also occurred in several other areas of greater Colombo. 
Therefore, it is difficult to determine if any one area is 
more dangerous than another location.  However, the EAC 
observed that the Fort contains a number of GSL facilities 
which are potential LTTE targets. Accordingly, the EAC 
recommended the following measures: 
 
--Whenever possible, Mission personnel should opt for routes 
that will minimize the likelihood of being in proximity to a 
GSL facility or similar potential LTTE target. 
 
--Post will maximize the use of armored vehicles (AVs) during 
working hours, particularly when personnel attend meetings at 
GSL facilities. 
 
--The EAC noted that some agencies provide AVs, while other 
agencies do not.  The EAC concurred that the random nature of 
the attacks in Colombo presents a strong argument for the use 
of AVs, and recommended that all agencies make every effort 
to provide AVs for their employees' use for business purposes. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The EAC asked the RSO to do further research 
regarding the timing and location of attacks over the last 
two years. This information will assist the EAC in 
determining if post should limit travel to any particular 
area of the city or increase AV use during non-business hours 
(such as for trips to and from the airport).  The EAC will 
meet and consider further recommendations upon review of the 
RSO's report. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The EAC then took up the issue of the security 
situation in the Eastern Province following the recent 
Provincial Council elections and the naming of Sivanesathurai 
Chandrakanthan ("Pillaiyan") as Chief Minister on May 16. 
There had been suggestions that communal violence would erupt 
between the Tamil and Muslim populations in the East if 
Pillaiyan obtained the Chief Minister position.  However, to 
date, there have been no major outbreaks of violence. 
Therefore, the EAC did not recommend any revisions to Post's 
restricted travel policy.  The RSO, DAO and POL will continue 
to monitor the security situation in the East and will 
closely review requests to travel there.  The EAC recommended 
that agencies not currently using AVs for travel to the East 
should consider revising their policies and use LAVs whenever 
possible. 
 
¶7. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security environment 
and will report further developments by septel.  POC for this 
message is RSO Michael V. Perkins, who may be contacted at 
94.11.249.8885, 94.11.249.8888 (MSG Post 1 after regular 
business hours), or via the classified and unclassified email 
systems. 
BLAKE