VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0956/01 2921106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191106Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0628
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3368

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000956 
 
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 OCTOBER 16 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) meeting on October 16, 2009.  The EAC 
discussed post's security posture in light of the anticipated 
release of the Department of State's Congressionally-mandated 
report regarding incidents involving possible violations of 
international humanitarian law that may have occurred during 
the conflict of the GoSL and the LTTE. (See "Report to 
Congress on Incidents during the Recent Conflict in Sri 
Lanka.")  The EAC discussed the implications for AMCITs 
working, living and vacationing in Sri Lanka during period 
following release of the report, including any possible 
threat to them.  EAC concurred on the idea that the 
possibility of protest and demonstrations near USG facilities 
is the biggest threat and may possibly occur in the early 
days following the release. 
 
RSO will dispatch letters requesting additional support of 
Sri Lankan Police Service (SLPS)personnel on the day of the 
report's release; RSO has requested additional SLPS personnel 
be available to quell the protest if demonstrations do indeed 
form.  The letters to the SLPS Headquarters notes the 
report's release date in Washington as October 21.  The EAC 
directed a warden message to be released on Wednesday, 
October 21, informing the AMCIT community of the expected 
report's release and the need to maintain a low profile and 
avoid all large gatherings of people. 
 
Secondly, the EAC discussed the security plans and posture 
for upcoming celebration to commemorate the 224th U.S. Marine 
Corps Birthday, as well as any threats, if any, to the event 
on November 7.  The EAC concurred that there was no 
information to indicate a threat to the event, and agreed the 
plan outlined by the RSO was commensurate with the security 
environment.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On October 16, 2009, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an 
EAC meeting.  Present for the meeting were the Deputy Chief 
of Mission, acting Regional Security Officer, Political 
Chief, Economic Chief, Management Officer, Consular Officer, 
Public Affairs Officer, USAID Director, Defense Attache, 
Office of Defense Cooperation Chief, Marine Security Guard 
Detachment Commander, International Broadcasting Bureau 
Station Chief, and Community Liaison Officer.  The agenda 
items for the meeting were: 
 
¶A. Security threats and posture and possible demonstrations 
in light of the Congressionally-mandated report regarding 
incidents involving possible violations of international 
humanitarian law that may have occurred during the conflict 
between the GoSL and the LTTE. 
 
¶B. Security for the Marine Corps Birthday celebration, 
scheduled for 1930 hrs. local on November 7, 2009 at the 
Hilton Hotel, 2 Sri Chittlampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, 
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In light of the report's anticipated release to 
Congress on Wednesday October 21., the EAC discussed the 
potential security impact on AMCITs in Sri Lanka, and the 
mission and its personnel more specifically. No specific 
threat of demonstrations has come forward at this time, but 
the EAC concurred that it is highly likely that 
demonstrations protesting this report will be conducted, 
possibly with the support of the GoSL. These protests will 
most likely be peaceful and directed specifically at or near 
USG facilities and not aimed at mission personnel or their 
residences.  However, due to the possibility of violence and 
the gatherings of large groups of people, the EAC advised 
that AMCITs keep a low profile and to avoid all large 
gatherings of people throughout the country.  On the day of 
the report's release in Sri Lanka and the days following, the 
EAC concurred that embassy employees should consider holding 
internal meetings only and limiting their travel during 
business hours outside the embassy.  RSO has requested 
additional support from the SLPS in the event that 
spontaneous demonstrations or planned demonstrations are held 
at or around USG facilities.  Additional LGF members and SD 
members will be responded to all USG facilities as well, and 
the MSG Detachment will be on call at the embassy on the days 
immediately following the release of the report. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The RSO briefed the EAC on the security plan for the 
MSG Birthday Celebration, noting that the venue, time, and 
date of this year's event are different from last year.   The 
MSG Detachment, which is planning the event, expects 
approximately 200 guests and will provide a guest list to the 
RSO prior to the event.  The hotel is located within a high 
security zone of Colombo, in which all vehicles and 
passengers are subject to screening by GSL security forces. 
Moreover, the Sri Lanka Police service (SLPS) and other 
security forces have numerous officers on duty 24/7 in the 
high security zones to quell demonstrations or disturbances. 
The hotel is set back from the main road approximately 25 
meters and has an underground parking facility.  The 
Ministerial Security Division (MSD) of the SLPS, from which 
the RSO enlisted Ball support, will screen all vehicles 
parking underground for explosive devices. The hotel will 
designate a parking area specifically for Ball guests.  The 
hotel's unarmed security force will augment the 10-12 
uniformed Local Guard Force (LGF) personnel assigned to work 
the event.  LGF personnel will control access to the event, 
using metal detectors to screen guests (except for VIPs). 
LGF personnel will check the guest list to ensure that no 
unwanted persons "crash" the event.  One embassy mobile 
patrol vehicle will be on standby at the hotel.  Three to 
five MSD personnel, in plainclothes, will be on the roadside 
and at curbside of the hotel to assist LGF personnel.  MSD 
personnel will screen the venue for explosive devices two 
hours prior to the event, after which LGF personnel will 
stand post and control the area.  The LGF will not allow 
armed bodyguards or protective details to enter the venue 
without specific RSO approval.  RSO will provide 
identification media (pins) for all non-Embassy security and 
hotel wait staff prior to the event. 
 
¶5. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security environment 
and plans to safeguard these events.  Post will report 
further developments, if any, per septel.  POC for this 
message is A/RSO Aaron LaFortune, 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. 
BUTENIS