OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 92 (06-18-03)

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001073

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06-18-13
TAGS: AMGT CE MV LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 92 (06-18-03)

Classified by Joseph L. Novak, Charge d'Affaires,
Reasons: 1.5 (b,d)

CONTENTS: MORE ON AFTERMATH OF LTTE SHIP SINKING
- LETTER FROM ASSASSINATED TAMIL POLITICIAN
- U.S. NAVY SHIP VISIT
- VISA REQUEST FOR PROPOSED SRI LANKAN EMBOFF

MORE ON AFTERMATH OF LTTE SHIP SINKING
--------------

1. (C) Just wanted to flag that the situation remains
relatively quiet in the aftermath of the June 14 sinking
of the Tiger ship off the northeast coast (Colombo 1061,
1053). From what we hear, however, the Tigers remain
very, very angry over the incident. Thus far, however,
the group has confined its reaction to words and not
taken other measures (that we know of). Re the incident,
local newspapers had some articles today (June 18)
alleging that the navy had not briefed officials in the
government about the June 14 operation as it was
happening. This is what Moragoda mentioned to us (as
flagged in Colombo 1061) and quite possibly leaked to the
press subsequently. We are not sure whether a
controversy is brewing over this matter and it is not
clear what, if anything, the PM plans to do about the
navy's apparent insubordination in any case. By the way,
re the PM, we understand that the government-controlled
TV channel will show his opening remarks made at Tokyo
last week on the evening of June 19 in Sinhala and then
in English. (POL)

LETTER FROM ASSASSINATED TAMIL POLITICIAN
--------------

2. (SBU) FYI. We received a letter yesterday (June 17)
from the Tamil politician who was assassinated in Jaffna
on June 14 (see Colombo 1053). In the letter, which was
apparently a circular of sorts sent out to other local
missions, T. Subathiran warns about the LTTE and their
policy of killing of Tamil opponents, and he asks for
international assistance to stop it. The letter is
chilling given what subsequently took place. (POL)

U.S. NAVY SHIP VISIT
--------------

3. (SBU) In one of the irregular visits by the U.S. Navy
to Sri Lanka, the USS O'Kane is set to visit Colombo from
June 20-23. The O'Kane is a guided missile destroyer
with a crew of around 350. It will be holding a
reception on board on the evening of June 21 for Sri
Lankan military officials and Mission personnel.
(POL/DAO)

VISA REQUEST FOR PROPOSED SRI LANKAN EMBOFF
--------------

4. (SBU) We sent some e-mails to the desk on the
following matter and wonder whether it had been looked
into. The case involves the following: A Sri Lankan
named Llangakoon Adikari came to the Embassy in late May
for a visa interview with a diplomatic note from the MFA
that indicated that he would be going to Los Angeles as
the Public Relations Officer of the Sri Lankan Consulate
there. He did not have a diplomatic passport and
explained that this was due to his being "locally
recruited." He had never been to the US as far as could
be determined. We called the MFA regarding the
diplomatic note and it confirmed it was real, but pointed
out that he was not "home-based" and the Consul General
in Los Angeles was making this hiring decision. The
applicant had no experience in public relations, but did
appear to have extensive construction and drafting
training certificates. Based on discussions with the
Front Office, a decision was made to make sure this
posting decision was legitimate by asking SA/INS to check
with Ambassador Subasinghe. Could you get back to us
with any information regarding this matter? -- the MFA is
knocking on our door. If Subasinghe thinks this fellow
is fine for the City of Angels, okay, but it seems a bit
fishy to us. Thanks. (CONS)

NOVAK