C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001479

SIPDIS

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/12/12
TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR CE
SUBJECT: Amidst vehement rhetoric, President leaves
door open for cohabitation negotiations

REF: (A) FBIS Reston VA dtg 120351Z Aug 02

- (B) FBIS Reston VA dtg 100639Z Aug 02
- (C) Colombo 1433
- (D) Colombo 1403

(U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills. Reasons
1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: On August 9, the President delivered a
televised speech to the nation that focused on
cohabitation with the ruling United National Front (UNF)
and the peace process. The President opened her
national address with conciliatory remarks, but halfway
through morphed into attack mode, assailing her
cohabitant - the UNF. Political observers differ on
their interpretation of the President's present
position, but overall there is some faint hope that
cohabitation may yet work. End Summary.


2. (U) On the evening of August 9, President
Kumaratunga addressed the nation on national TV on the
current peace process and cohabitation with the UNF led
government. (Please see Ref B for the full text.) The
speech began in conciliatory tones. To Wit:

-- As Executive President I have the duty to work in
cohabitation with a Cabinet comprised of a different
Party.

-- ... the ability to put country before self, become
essential pre-requisites in the political leadership of
both sides.

-- Throughout my political career I have remained
resolute that the ethnic issue requires a political
settlement. Accordingly, I have extended my fullest
support to the peace process.

-- I am not prepared to aggravate the state of
political confusion prevailing today by holding another
election.


3. (C) After this promising beginning, the President
changed moods mid-speech. She referred to the UNF's
"mockery of democracy." She repeatedly insinuated that
the PM was naive in his handling of the peace process.
And she threatened to use her presidential powers to
prevent the dismemberment of the state, implying that
the PM was prepared to consider breaking Sri Lanka apart
if not for her steadfastness. In a happy conclusion,
she stated she would continue to support the peace
process for the good of the country.


4. (C) Just as the President's speech delivered two
distinct and opposing messages, reactions to it have
been divided. Harim Peiris, the Presidential Spokesman,
stated that the primary message that Kumaratunga was
trying to relay in the speech was conciliatory. The
President, he asserted, is willing to work with the UNF,
as long as the UNF accepts that she will not give up her
presidential powers piece-by-piece. Kumaratunga, like
the UNF, believes the Executive Presidency should be
abolished, but - unlike the UNF - only as part of a
comprehensive change in the constitution. Peiris
stressed that the President has no intention of
dissolving Parliament and that she believes cohabitation
will work if the UNF is willing to let it work along
current constitutional lines. (Note: Kumaratunga's
office is planning to release a statement emphasizing
these two points later this evening.)


5. (C) Our soundings around town otherwise were mixed.
The Center for Policy Alternatives' Kethesh Loganathan
commented that the conciliatory part of the speech was
the political message that Kumaratunga was delivering
and, in the end, is the rational choice she will take.
He added that the more aggressive statements were merely
her venting some personal frustration. He believes the
UNF will have to mollify Kumaratunga in some manner and
that it can and will be done.


6. (C) MP R. Sampanthan of the Tamil National Alliance
stated that if CBK uses her presidential powers as
threatened in her speech the government will not be able
to function. M.C.M. Iqbal of the Law and Society Trust,
normally neutral on the President, does not believe her
promises of cohabitation and will not believe them until
she accepts a constitutional change.


7. (C) Comment: The President's address to the nation
was not a bracing splash of conciliation and optimism.
It was equivocal and general enough, however, to leave
hope that reconciliation is possible. In this
connection, we understand the PM and President will be
meeting August 12 or 13 to try to come to terms on a
more peaceful coexistence and cooperation. End comment.

WILLS