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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000111 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: FM BOGOLLAGAMA SUMMONS CHARGE FOR FOLLOW-UP ON 
FONSEKA, U.S. STATEMENT 
 
COLOMBO 00000111  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES VALERIE C. FOWLER.  REASONS: 1.4 (B, D 
) 
 
¶1. (C) On February 12, Foreign Minister Bogollagama summoned 
Charge to provide more information regarding her question at 
a February 11 briefing for the diplomatic corps regarding 
General Fonseka's medical care.  At the February 11 briefing 
the FM enumerated the legal provisions that govern the 
process underway following the decision to arrest General 
Fonseka on February 8.  When asked whether General Fonseka 
would be able to receive care from his personal physician, an 
active duty Army officer, the FM affirmed to the assembled 
diplomatic corps that General Fonseka would be able to select 
the medical care of his choice, adding that clearly his own 
physician would know the general's medical situation best. 
The FM told Charge on February 12 that immediately after the 
briefing he had met with President Rajapaksa and told him of 
Charge's "useful and helpful" question and his reply.  The FM 
wanted to share with the embassy the president's response 
that the government would not only permit General Fonseka to 
use medical care of his choice, the government would actively 
support visits by the general's doctors and family. 
 
¶2. (C) The Foreign Minister stressed that Sri Lanka is a land 
of laws and cited two events on February 12 that he said 
prove the importance of due process.  He noted the Supreme 
Court decision to grant leave to proceed in the Fundamental 
Human Rights petition filed by General Fonseka's wife and 
commented that the early date of February 23 to hear the case 
indicated that the court understood the importance and 
timeliness of this case.  The FM highlighted the critical 
comments by a "junior magistrate" (Colombo Chief Magistrate, 
Champa Janaki Rajaratne) regarding the police handling of the 
protest outside of the Supreme Court building on February 10, 
commenting that her critique of the police for bias in favor 
of the government showed the independence of the judiciary. 
 
¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Bogollagama noted that the election 
process is now underway and that he expected and hoped there 
would be vibrant participation in the parliamentary 
elections, as we had seen for the presidential elections.  He 
said he wished to inform the embassy that "the opposition has 
a tendency to rake up issues for political gain, and when 
elements from outside support these agendas, it can be 
difficult."  He immediately stressed that he was not 
referring to the United States but cautioned that the 
opposition wanted to make non-issues into issues.  The Charge 
responded that on occasion government officials also made 
statements for political gain and noted that the FM had a 
copy in front of him of the embassy's February 10 press 
release regarding Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's 
allegations on U.S. financial support of Fonseka's 
presidential campaign.  The Charge told the Foreign Minister 
that the U.S. had found the defense secretary's comments 
surprising, distressing, and even provocative, and that there 
was no truth to his allegation that we had provided financial 
support to the opposition candidate.  FM Bogollagama said 
that he knew that the comments were false and had said so 
bluntly earlier that day in his press briefing when asked 
about the defense secretary's comments.  The Charge mentioned 
the FM's agreement, from an earlier meeting with the 
Ambassador, that the U.S. had a right to defend itself in 
such circumstances.  The FM agreed, noting that he had made 
the same point when he was asked about our embassy press 
statement in his briefing.  He said that he explained that as 
Foreign Minister it was his responsibility to support the 
right of a bilateral partner to defend its national 
reputation when called into question. 
 
COMMENT 
 
COLOMBO 00000111  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
------- 
 
¶4. (C) Following the embassy's press statement of February 11 
regarding Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's allegations, this meeting 
could have gone either way, but Bogollagama chose cordiality. 
 They appear to have recognized our line in the sand and seem 
to be walking back the allegations.  Their response on 
Fonseka's medical care also hold promise -- if they follow 
through. 
FOWLER