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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: ANGLICAN BISHOP OFFERS ADVICE AND HOPE 
 
REF: COLOMBO 140 
 
COLOMBO 00000142  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS.  REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 25, Ambassador called on Anglican 
Bishop Duleep Kamil De Chickera, a well-respected and 
influential Sri Lankan cleric.  The bishop saw a role for the 
international community in Sri Lanka but cautioned against a 
didactic approach.  While there were two national interfaith 
groups and many local ones, none were actively engaged in Sri 
Lanka.  The bishop noted improvements in the Sinhalese vision 
for relations with Tamils and Muslims and opined that 
eventually Sri Lankans would demand change in the current 
direction of their country.  END SUMMARY. 
 
COURTESY CALL ON ANGLICAN BISHOP 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador called on Anglican Bishop Duleep Kamil De 
Chickera, a well-respected and influential Sri Lankan cleric. 
 The bishop had recently released a statement on Fonseka's 
arrest and detention, calling for clarification of charges 
and a transparent judicial process.  He was also part of a 
post-election joint statement by six Roman Catholic and 
Anglican bishops highlighting concern over the campaign 
process, low Tamil voter turnout, the use of transfers for 
political ends, terminations and promotions to reward or 
punish military, police, and public servants after the 
election, and the disappearance of journalist Mr. Eknaligoda. 
 (NOTE: The bishop is considered liberal within Anglican 
circles and drew international attention when he delivered a 
sermon at the Lambeth Conference, calling for inclusiveness 
in communion for all, "regardless of color, ability, gender 
or sexual orientation."  END NOTE.) 
 
ROLE FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The bishop urged Ambassador not to remain silent in 
Sri Lanka, acknowledging the need to express U.S. views and 
to promote international human values.  He emphasized, 
however, that the U.S -- and the international community -- 
should frame problems as universal learning opportunities, 
acknowledging their own histories and responsibilities, 
rather than criticizing.  A long history of colonization had 
left Sri Lankans easily "offended by the teacher mentality." 
Rajapaksa had won favor from Sinhalese who saw him as "a 
person who, right or wrong, would stand up to the global 
north."  The bishop also recommended quietly building up 
relationships within the government, noting that Rome was not 
built in a day.  Regarding advocacy on individual human 
rights cases, the bishop advised reminding the state of it 
obligations rather than focusing on its failures and 
soliciting individual "favors." 
 
INTERFAITH COORDINATION 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) According to the bishop there are two major interfaith 
organizations bringing monks, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim 
leaders together: the Congress of Religions and the 
Inter-religious Peace Foundation.  He recalled that the end 
of the war brought a new understanding among monks of how 
"the crisis was eating at the roots of democracy" and "opened 
peoples' eyes to the movement against dissent" in politics 
and the media.  But the interfaith groups had not moved 
forward to act.  (NOTE: The Fonseka arrest did galvanize 
monks of varying castes into issuing a joint statement on 
democratic governance and calling for a council of clergy to 
discuss it. (Ref. A). END NOTE.) At the local level, there 
were many low profile interfaith groups, helpful for 
 
COLOMBO 00000142  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
sustaining trust among communities, but otherwise limited in 
their roles. 
 
POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVEMENT 
------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) While the bishop admitted to concern about "moderate, 
principled people" who seemed to have fallen in line with the 
Rajapaksa regime, he also expressed hope for Sri Lanka.  In 
his view, the Sinhalese vision for relations with Tamils and 
Muslims had improved.  The Sinhalese were more relaxed now 
that the war was over, and they sensed no immediate threat 
from the LTTE.  Reports of intimidation of Tamils in daily 
life had decreased.  The bishop also opined that change would 
come "when people come to their senses and say 'enough,'" 
citing historical examples such as apartheid in South Africa, 
civil rights in the U.S., and aboriginals in Australia. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) The bishop's encouragement to the Ambassador that she 
continue to express U.S. views and to promote international 
human values by framing problems as universal learning 
opportunities reflected thoughtful advice from a good embassy 
contact with an important view on, and voice in, Sri Lanka. 
His advice complemented the consensus approach to engaging 
the GSL reached by Colombo-based chiefs of mission (COMs) in 
a meeting hosted by the Ambassador later on February 25 
(septel).  The COMs agreed that any GSL attack on core 
democratic values or institutions should be met with strong 
denunciation by the international community and that the 
international community should re-engage with the president 
after the April 8 election regarding his promises on 
reconciliation, the 13th Amendment, and re-development in the 
north and east. 
BUTENIS