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RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
KATHMANDU FOR REFCOORD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: A/S SCHWARTZ VISITS IDP CAMPS IN 
NORTHERN SRI LANKA 
 
REF: COL 768 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE.  REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: During his July 25-28 visit to Sri Lanka, 
PRM Assistant Secretary Eric Schwartz directly observed the 
humanitarian situation in Manik Farm, an expansive, yet 
congested, camp complex in northern Sri Lanka for 220,000 of 
the 280,000-plus Sri Lankans displaced in the final months of 
the conflict.  A/S Schwartz  received full access to Manik 
Farm, including areas such as Zone 2 that have been 
prohibited to many other visitors, a signal that the Sri 
Lankan Government intended to ensure a productive visit.   As 
a demonstration of the U.S.,s strong interest in rapid 
release and return, A/S Schwartz announced $8 million in PRM 
and USAID/OFDA funding for returns and early recovery.  A/S 
Schwartz also discussed with civilian and military leadership 
the Government's preliminary plans for rehabilitation of LTTE 
combatants.  END SUMMARY. 
¶2.  (U)  The U.S. delegation -- A/S Eric Schwartz, Charge, 
USAID Mission Director, and Deputy RefCoord -- were 
accompanied to Manik Farm by Justice Minister Milinda 
Moragoda, UNHCR Representative Amin Awad, and Commissioner 
General for Rehabilitation Daya Ratnayake.  Upon landing next 
to Manik Farm Zone 2, A/S Schwartz was received by Vavuniya 
District Government Agent Mrs. P.S.M. Charles and  Minister 
of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Rishad 
Bathiudeen, as well as military officials and representatives 
from OFDA and U.S.-funded humanitarian organizations. 
40,000 RETURNS IN AUGUST 
¶3.  (SBU) Mrs. Charles and civilian liaison officer Brigadier 
Perera briefed A/S Schwartz on plans to begin returns in 
August.  Mrs. Charles reported that 10,000 families will be 
returned to 35 villages in Vavuniya District North and 
Kilinochchi District by August 15.   These villages have been 
declared &clear8 by the Sri Lankan military.  (Comment: 
During the conflict, &cleared areas8 referred only to 
Government-captured land, not necessarily areas certified as 
mine-free.  Post's understanding is that the military has 
determined that these 35 villages are mine-free.  End 
comment.)   Mrs. Charles predicted that approximately 40,000 
IDPs will be returned in the month of August.  Brigadier 
Perera, who has been coordinating military efforts in and 
around the camps since former Competent Authority General 
Chandrasiri was appointed Governor of the Northern Province, 
emphasized to A/S Schwartz the importance the Government 
places on decongestion to alleviate overcrowded conditions. 
The Government is clearing additional land to decongest the 
camps and the public buildings in Vavuniya which have been 
accommodating IDPs for months.   He noted that he hopes 30 to 
40 percent of camp residents will be out of the camps before 
the monsoon rains begin in October. 
CAMP RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR CONCERNS WITH A/S SCHWARTZ 
¶4.  (SBU)  A/S Schwartz began the camp visit by traveling to 
Zone 2 in a vehicle convoy of military escorts and 
humanitarian agency representatives.  According to UN 
workers, Zone 2 is the most overcrowded, with an average of 
9-12 people living in each tent, and the zone where access 
restrictions for aid agency workers and visitors are the most 
severe.  When traveling within Zone 2, A/S Schwartz directed 
his vehicle to stop, and with only Brigadier Perera and 
Deputy Refcoord accompanying, toured an area of the camp and 
spoke with camp residents.  They relayed to him their hopes 
of returning home, and their anxiety at not knowing how long 
they must remain in the camps.  A/S Schwartz encouraged 
Brigadier Perera to answer the residents, questions about 
when they could leave; they were visibly relieved to hear 
that the Government wanted them returned home as soon as 
possible.  None appeared intimidated by the presence of a 
 
COLOMBO 00000769  002 OF 003 
 
 
military official in uniform, and seemed to talk freely in 
his presence.  Some residents complained of separation from 
family members, whom they presumed were in the separate 
temporary sites for ex-combatants.  Brigadier Perera 
encouraged family members to sign up for a bus that takes 
family members to visit ex-combatants in separate facilities. 
 Interestingly, apart from general medical complaints, the 
residents did not raise concerns about the quality of 
services or goods provided within the camps. 
¶5.  (SBU)  At Zone 4, A/S Schwartz visited a medical center 
and talked with Sri Lankan doctors serving in Manik Farm for 
the Ministry of Health. The doctors reported that most health 
concerns in the camps relate to hygiene and sanitation 
concerns. The doctors are currently coordinating with the 
Ministry of Health on hygiene promotion and on an upcoming 
inoculations campaign.  The medical and humanitarian workers 
in Manik Farm were mindful of the rainy season's start in 
October, and all believe that decongestion, improved 
sanitation, and hygiene promotion must take place in the 
coming months to prevent the spread of diarrhea and other 
disease. (Comment: The sanitation conditions in both Zones 2 
and 4 were markedly improved from earlier post visits in May 
and June.  End comment.) 
REHABILITATION OF EX-COMBATANTS NOT YET UNDERWAY 
¶6.  (C) During his visit, A/S Schwartz had the opportunity to 
discuss plans for the rehabilitation of ex-combatants with 
Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda, newly appointed 
Commissioner General for Rehabilitation Daya Ratnayake, and 
other officials.  (Note: Ratnayake is an active duty Army 
general.  He and Moragoda explained that the Ministry of 
Justice, which will be responsible for rehabilitation, lacks 
the human resources to implement and oversee rehabilitation 
programs.  Both said the GSL will depend on the expertise of 
the International Organization for Migration (IOM ) in this 
area.  End note.)  The Government currently plans to create 
rehabilitation centers for the identified 10,000 surrendees, 
who are now in 13 temporary sites.  GSL officials predict 
that up to 10,000 additional ex-combatants may be identified 
as security sweeps in the camps continue.   General Senaka, 
of the Vavuniya District command, informed A/S Schwartz that 
the Government anticipates the rehabilitation process for 
ex-combatants will involve one year in a rehabilitation 
center and two years in the community.  The Government is 
currently in discussion with IOM about establishing the camps 
and conducting demobilization and rehabilitation programs in 
the North.  A tough question for the Government involves the 
family members of LTTE combatants who are in the IDP camps. 
A/S Schwartz was told that family members of combatants 
enjoyed special status under the LTTE, including allowances 
and other benefits.  The Government also believes some family 
members are or were militant supporters of the LTTE and may 
also pose a security risk.  The Government is currently 
considering options for how to deal with the family members 
including whether family members should remain with 
ex-combatants during the course of rehabilitation, or if this 
should be addressed through another approach.  (Comment:  In 
conversations with A/S Schwartz (please protect), Moragoda 
referred to his new assignment coordinating the 
rehabilitation process as a &poisoned chalice.8  This will 
be a highly challenging role, and Moragoda told A/S Schwartz 
he is extremely interested in obtaining advice and guidance 
from U.S. friends as well as IOM.  End comment.) 
¶7.  (C) The delegation had requested access to visit one of 
the 13 temporary facilities where ex-combatants are detained. 
 Ultimately, the request to enter one was not approved for 
the stated reason of concern for the security of the 
delegation.  Minister Moragoda later confided to A/S Schwartz 
that the group could not visit a camp because no 
rehabilitation programs have yet been initiated in the 
 
COLOMBO 00000769  003 OF 003 
 
 
facilities in the Vavuniya area where the ex-combatants are 
being detained. 
COMMENT 
¶8.  (C) The Government clearly went to great lengths to 
ensure Assistant Secretary Schwartz received access to Manik 
Farm.  While the military officials overseeing the camps were 
uneasy with A/S Schwartz,s unannounced walk-throughs, they 
ultimately permitted it. The residents of the camps primarily 
voiced concerns about separation from family members and 
about their future, rather than about the physical conditions 
in the sites -- although there were complaints about health 
and sanitary conditions relating to the very close quarters 
in which people are living.  The Government could clearly be 
doing more to assuage all these concerns, a message A/S 
Schwartz conveyed to President Rajapaksa and others senior 
officials.  (reftel) 
¶9.  A/S Schwartz has reviewed and cleared this cable. 
MOORE