VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0625 1700419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190419Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0131
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3132

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000625 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, CA AND SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER
SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING JUNE 17, 2009 REF 
TRAVEL WARNING 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) meeting on June 17, 2009.  The EAC 
discussed post's Official Travel Policy and the necessity to 
update the Country Specific Information and the Travel 
Warning in light of the current security situation in Sri 
Lanka as a result of the Government of Sri Lanka's (GSL) 
declared defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE, or Tamil Tigers). The EAC discussed amending the 
official Travel Policy and lifting the current ban on travel 
by public transportation (buses and trains).  EAC also 
discussed amendments to the Restricted Travel Policy, but 
decided in favor of keeping the policy as is, until the 
security situation stabilizes and the GSL decreases its 
intense security measures. The EAC concurred on amendments to 
both the Consular Information Sheet and the Consular Travel 
Warning. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On June 17, 2009, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an EAC 
meeting.  Present for the meeting were Acting Deputy Chief of 
Mission, Regional Security Officer, Regional Affairs Officer, 
Political Officer, Economic Officer, Management Officer, 
Consular Officer, Public Affairs Officer, USAID Director, 
Defense Attache', Office f Defense Cooperation Chief, Marine 
Security Guad Detachment Commander, International 
Broadcastig Bureau Station Chief, Community Liaison Officer, 
and Medical Officer.  The agenda items for the meeting were: 
 
-- Amending to the Restricted Travel Policy 
 
-- Revising the Travel Warning and Country Specific 
Information Sheet 
 
¶3. (SBU) The EAC agreed that it is too soon (only one month) 
after the GSL's victory over the LTTE to change the current 
policy. The EAC agreed that revisions might be warranted if 
the security situation stabilizes, and when or if the GSL 
eases the heavy security presence and allows more freedom of 
movement throughout the country. However, the EAC agreed to 
recommend lifting the ban on the traveling on trains for 
personal reasons, while maintaining the ban on travel of 
public buses due to the history and more recent events of 
bombings and suicide attacks associated with buses and bus 
stations. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The EAC agreed on proposed revisions to the Travel 
Warning and Country Specific Information Sheet (CIS), for 
approval by the Charge d'Affaires, A/DCM, RSO, CONS, POL, and 
ECON sections. CONS advised the EAC that Amcits of Sri Lankan 
heritage might encounter difficulties if they travel to Sri 
Lanka. For example, the GSL has detained nationals of other 
Western nations with dual Sri Lankan citizenship and has even 
sent them to Internally Displaced Persons camps in the North, 
while denying consular access to them. Therefore, post's 
Travel Warning and CIS will continue to advise Amcits of Sri 
Lankan origins of the risks involved in traveling to the 
country. 
 
¶5. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security situation 
and will report further developments, if any, 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. 
MOORE