O 201232Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9826
INFO AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 
AMEMBASSY DHAKA 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
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AMCONSUL CHENNAI 
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USEU BRUSSELS
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
DIA WASHINGTON DC
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHDC
CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//
CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000435 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER), SCA/INS AND PRM 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID 
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN) 
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR) 
ATHENS FOR PCARTER 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER) 
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY) 
GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI) 
USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO) 
SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY 
PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE
SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 56 
 
Ref:  A) Colombo 432  B) Colombo 425  C) Colombo 418  D) Colombo 414 
 E) Colombo 413  F) Colombo 412  G) Colombo 411  H) Colombo 402  I) 
Colombo 401  J) Colombo 400  K) Colombo 396  L) Colombo 393 and 
previous 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The situation in the "safe zone" has taken a 
dramatic turn today, with a strong push by the Sri Lankan military. 
 Reports indicate that early this morning Sri Lankan troops attacked 
LTTE positions near and in Putumattalan.  High numbers of civilians 
appear to have crossed over into government control.  President 
Rajapaksa announced that 35,000 civilians had crossed over. 
Ambassador told Foreign Minister Bogollagama the U.S. was pleased 
large numbers of civilians were able to escape, but noted that this 
may have come at a high cost in civilian casualties that could have 
been averted had the GSL waited to allow diplomacy.  The Sri Lankan 
Defense Ministry is also reporting some 92 small boats with about 
1,500 civilians on board have escaped the safe zone as well and were 
picked up by Sri Lankan naval forces.  There are unconfirmed reports 
of 3 suicide bombing attacks by the LTTE causing 55-60 casualties 
among these civilians.  No good estimates are available yet on the 
number of civilian casualties due to today's attack by the 
government forces.  In strong statements by President Rajapaksa and 
Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Government has 
rejected calls for a further humanitarian pause.  A Defense Ministry 
spokesman announced at noon today Colombo time that the LTTE leader 
Prabhakaran had 24 hours to surrender.  The food shipment into the 
"safe zone" scheduled to leave tonight with approximately 1,000 
metric tons of food is loaded, but has not yet received clearance 
from the Ministry of Defense, and today's military actions may 
otherwise prevent that departure. UN Resident Representative Buhne 
has written the GSL seeking security assurances for a UN security 
advance team to visit the safe zone ahead of the working level UN 
team negotiated by Vijay Nambiar.  The GSL has not responded yet to 
Buhne's letter.  End summary. 
 
GOVERNMENT FORCES ENTER THE "SAFE ZONE" 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In a fairly large-scale operation, government forces 
penetrated into the safe zone in the night from April 19 to 20.  UN 
sources reported a heavy offensive in which the government took 
Matalan junction and at least briefly reached the hospital in 
Putumattalan.  According to multiple reports, large numbers of 
civilians were able to escape across government lines.  The UN 
resident coordinator added that the World Food Program shipment that 
was to depart Trincomalee for the safe zone at 1900 had yet received 
security clearance to leave.  It was not clear whether it would 
receive clearance to depart on the evening of April 21, or whether 
the intensive fighting might make this impossible. 
 
PRESIDENT: 35,000 CIVILIANS ESCAPED TODAY 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) President Rajapaksa announced that 35,000 civilians had been 
liberated from LTTE control.  In an interview, he claimed that the 
rebels' "complete defeat" was imminent. "The process of the complete 
defeat of the LTTE has just begun," he told AFP. "It is now all over 
for the Tigers."  Showing aerial video from an unmanned aerial 
vehicle, he said 35,000 non-combatants had crossed the lines into 
 
government-held territory since early Monday morning. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) According to Sri Lankan Army sources, 19,000 civilians had 
been processed by the 58th Division, with 15,000 more waiting. 
Aerial surveillance showed that 5,000-7,000 more had tried to flee 
north through the 55th Division lines, but that the LTTE was able to 
force them back. The Army claims the LTTE has been firing small arms 
and mortars at fleeing civilians, and attacked the Army's breach of 
the LTTE's fighting positions near Putumattalan with three separate 
suicide blasts.  The Army claimed to have evacuated 140 civilian 
casualties so far.  Figures for the Army's own casualties were quite 
low (8 killed and 9 wounded), but "the numbers are expected to 
climb." 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad told Ambassador 
earlier that his government believed 16,000 had crossed already, 
with another 15-20,000 ready to cross.  Consistent with GSL claims, 
he added that at least three suicide bombers had caused 55-60 
civilian casualties.  India sees this as a clear sign LTTE is still 
trying to deter civilians from leaving, he note.  He said that the 
GoI does not have good casualty estimates but agreed that the GSL 
clearlyis ignoring the advice of the UN and the international 
community not to enter the safe zone. 
 
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES EXPECTED TO BE HIGH 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) No reliable estimates of civilian casualties have emerged 
yet.  Military sources said they had evacuated some 140 civilian 
casualties.  Sources close to the LTTE suggested by mid-morning that 
some 988 civilians had been killed and 1,215 were injured.  Numbers 
from these sources are often subject to exaggeration. 
 
GOVERNMENT REJECTS REQUEST FOR FURTHER CEASEFIRE 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Sri Lankan Government rejected calls by the UN, the US 
and other international actors for a continuation of last week's 
humanitarian cease fire.  Various Government officials including 
Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stated that the Government had 
given the LTTE the chance to show good faith with last week's two 
day pause in the fighting.  Because very few civilians crossed over 
from the safe zone during those two days, the government now feels 
justified in continuing military action against the LTTE. 
 
¶8. (SBU)  With local and regional elections in the Western Province 
- including Colombo - this coming Saturday, President Rajapaksa is 
using political rallies to push the argument that the Government 
will not bow to international pressure.  At a rally with members of 
the SFLP youth league on Sunday, April 19, President Rajapaksa said 
he would not allow himself to be pressured by any nation, and was 
firmly committed to liberate Sri Lanka from terrorists.  That same 
day at another rally with a group of physicians and farmer 
association representatives he stated that the LTTE was forcing 
civilians to stay inside the safe zone. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Ambassador contacted Foreign Minister Bogollagama, who 
reiterated what the President had announced: 35,000 civilian had 
escaped, but some fell victim to attacks by suicide bombers. 
 
Ambassador said the U.S. is certainly glad large numbers were able 
to get out, but noted that this may have come at a high cost in 
civilian casualties that could have been averted had the GSL waited 
to use diplomacy.  Bogollagama said he did not have casualty figure 
but said he had not heard casualty figures but said he would get 
back to us.  Ambassador suggested he organize a briefing, including 
MoD reps, for the Co-Chairs, India the UN and other key missions on 
April 21 to explain the Government's actions and plan.  Bogollagama 
undertook to do so. 
 
CO-CHAIR CONFERENCE CALL 
------------------------ 
 
¶10. (SBU) Donor Co-Chair members held a conference call on April 18 
to focus on coordination of next steps.  UN Resident Representative 
Buhne has written the GSL seeking security assurances for a UN 
security advance team to visit the safe zone ahead of the working 
level UN team negotiated by Nambiar.  The GSL has not responded yet 
to Buhne's letter. 
 
SEVERE SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) A briefing by ICRC and MSF on April 17 highlighted the 
severe shortage of medical supplies inside the safe zone.  These 
organizations said the international community needs to advocate for 
medical supplies to be allowed into the safe zone, including 
anesthesia, dressings and injectable pain relief medication. 
Estimates say only 5% of supplies needed is being received, and 
unnecessary deaths are occurring as a result. 
 
MILITARY TELLS UNHCR TO PREPARE FOR 40,000 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) UNHCR reports they were contacted today by the Sri Lankan 
military and told to prepare for an additional 40,000 evacuees from 
the safe zone over the next 2-3 days.  Current facilities in Zones 
1, 2 and 3 of the main IDP camp, Manik Farms, will only barely hold 
these, while water and sanitation will shortly become pressing 
matters. 
 
UNHCR BRIEFS ON PROGRESS IN CAMPS 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  (U) In a briefing in Geneva by on April 17, the UNHCR spokesman 
welcomed positive steps by the government to address protection 
concerns at IDP sites in Vavuniya.  The spokesman noted that short 
visits by friends and relatives to the sites are now allowed visits. 
  Telephone, telegram and mail services were now operating in almost 
all sites. About 1,800 IDPs with special needs (particularly the 
elderly) had been released, and some 1,345 separated families had 
been reunited, according to GSL sources. 
 
¶14.  (U) UNHCR called on the government to accelerate progress on 
other protection concerns, including maintaining the civilian 
character of the IDP sites and the separation of ex-combatants from 
the civilian population; expediting the screening process; and then 
allowing freedom of movement.  UNHCR committed to work with the 
government to ensure that minimum international standards are met at 
 
all sites. UNHCR underlined that the ultimate objective of the 
government should be to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of 
the displaced to their villages of origin by removing obstacles to 
return; in particular, demining.  UNHCR urged the international 
community to provide the government with technical and financial 
support to carry out mine clearance in areas of return. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) Political Officer Ben Barry, who drafted many of these 
situation reports, has completed his tour of duty in Colombo.  We 
thank him for his outstanding work and are pleased to welcome his 
successor, Nathan Jones, who will take over drafting of the sitrep, 
among other duties. 
 
BLAKE