In visit to central region, some interlocutors

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001075

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06-18-13
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SOCI CE LTTE
SUBJECT: In visit to central region, some interlocutors
anxious over peace track, but Buddhist monks are serene

Refs: Colombo 1061, and previous

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a June 15-16 visit, Kandy, an
important city in Sri Lanka's Sinhalese belt, was quiet
and peaceful. Many interlocutors, however, expressed
anxiety about Tamil Tiger intentions. Buddhist monks,
an influential group, were more serene. There was much
comment -- in a favorable way -- on what was perceived
as the USG's increased involvement in the peace track.
Similar to most Sri Lankans, Kandyans clearly value the
peace track, with no one wanting a return to war. END
SUMMARY.

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Visit to Kandy
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2. (U) Poloff and Pol FSN visited Kandy on June 15-16.
Kandy, the most important city in central Sri Lanka,
appeared largely quiet and peaceful. Markets were
crowded, with commercial activity seemingly booming. In
what is Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist religious
center and a major city for the majority Sinhalese
ethnic group, Kandy's large population of saffron-clad
Buddhist monks went about their business. Adjacent to
Sri Lanka's mountainous tea growing region, Kandy's
climate was also less oppressive than Colombo's, due to
its higher elevation and steep, foliage-covered, emerald
green hills.

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Anxiety about the Peace Track
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3. (C) The refreshing change of climate did not extend
to the political scene, however, as local politicians,
university professors, and think-tank scholars all
expressed anxiety about the current state of the peace
process. In particular, interlocutors expressed deep
concerns about the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) and its depth of commitment to the peace track.


4. (C) In a meeting with Opposition People's Alliance
(PA) politicians, for example, senior PA MP Dr. Sarath
Amunugama expressed deep worry about the fate of the
peace process given the recent sinking of what he
characterized as a LTTE "arms resupply" ship.
(Note: Amunugama also serves as chief PA spokesman.
His reference was to the June 14 sinking of a LTTE ship
which was intercepted by the Sri Lankan navy off the
northeast coast. Despite his claims, it has not been
determined whether the ship was carrying arms-related
items -- see Reftels.) Amunugama went on to tell poloff
that the Tigers' hard-line demand for immediate creation
of an interim structure in the north/east was grating to
many in the south, as was its failure to turn up for the
recent Tokyo donors conference. In making its demands,
Amunugama said he thought the LTTE was mainly trying to
mobilize support among Tamils in the north/east.


5. (C) The PA politicians were not alone in their
criticism of the Tigers. Open distrust of the group was
also echoed by Kesara Senanayake, the mayor of Kandy,
and Dr. K.M. de Silva, head of the independent
International Center for Ethnic Studies (ICES).
(Note: Senanayake is a relative of two past prime
ministers and is a member of the governing United
National Party (UNP); de Silva, is a well-known
historian with loose UNP connections.) Professor de
Silva said he thought that members of Sri Lanka's Tamil
community outside of the LTTE-controlled areas in the
north/east were very frustrated with the LTTE's failure
to reform and become more pluralistic. He added that
many Tamils were also frightened about the wave of
recent assassinations of Tamil opponents, which were
almost certainly being perpetrated by the LTTE (see
Reftels). Senanayake, in ominous tones, claimed that
the Tigers had operatives stationed in Kandy who were
prepared to take action should the Tigers return to war.

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Monks more Serene
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6. (C) Compared to the politicians and poloff's other
interlocutors, Buddhist monks were considerably more
serene about the peace process. (Note: Monks are a
very influential group in Sri Lanka, which is almost 70
percent Buddhist. In addition to religious and societal
affairs, monks often comment on political issues, too.)
The deputy Mahanayakes (revered leaders) of the Buddhist
Asgiriya and Malwatte sects (the two largest monastic
groups in Sri Lanka) did not criticize the LTTE.
Instead, Menikdiwela Sri Rathanasara Thero of the
Malwatte sect and Niranjan D. Wijerathna, the Chief
Custodian (highest lay person) of the Tooth Relic
Temple, spent much time highlighting the positive
results of the peace process. Both made a point to show
poloff the temple areas destroyed and rebuilt since the
January 1998 bombing of the area by the LTTE.
(Note: Thirteen people were killed in the incident.
The attack shocked the country as the temple is the most
venerated site in Sri Lankan Buddhism.) In doing so,
however, they did not cast aspersions on Tamils or the
LTTE, but stressed the futility of the war and of
terrorism.

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Perceived increase in USG Interest
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7. (C) In discussions with poloff, many interlocutors
placed a spotlight on what they perceived as an increase
in USG interest in Sri Lanka and the peace process. In
making this claim, the general view was that U.S.
involvement was a positive thing, which should continue.
Dr. P.O. Thattil, for example, a U.S.-educated
researcher at the University of Peridiniya which is near
Kandy, said he thought heightened U.S. support for the
peace process was a positive development, which put
pressure on the LTTE. He wondered whether U.S.
involvement came somewhat at the expense of Norway.
(Note: The Norwegian government has been serving as
facilitator for the peace process for the past handful
of years.) PA spokesman Amunugama, who also thought
that the U.S. was more involved in Sri Lanka than in the
past, asked whether U.S.-India discussions included Sri
Lanka and whether the U.S. would back the GSL should war
return. Mayor Senanayake joked that General Franks
could deal with the Tigers in half a day if the Tigers
abandoned the 18-month-old ceasefire.


8. (C) In response, poloff emphasized that the U.S. and
the rest of the international community wanted to do all
they could to assist Sri Lanka's peace process. This
had been made clear at the recent Tokyo donors
conference. From the very start of the war, however,
the international community had recognized that it would
be best for Sri Lanka and the region if the conflict was
ended via a negotiated settlement. That said, it was up
to Sri Lankans to make peace happen, not outsiders.

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COMMENT
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9. (C) Similar to most Sri Lankans, Kandyans of all
sorts clearly value the peace process on a very deep
level. Even in light of the generally high degree of
anxiety over Tiger intentions, no one that poloff spoke
to wanted a return to war.

10. (C) The reaction of Buddhist monks, for example,
was very interesting. Despite their reputation as being
zealots on the issue of Sinhalese Buddhist rights in Sri
Lanka, the monks made clear that they wanted peace and
supported the GSL's efforts. In fact, they seemed to
bend over backwards not to criticize the Tigers or the
Tamil community in any way. The import of this is that
it is doubtful that Sinhalese chauvinists could ever
lead an effort to unseat the peace track without support
of the monks. All that said, while the monks remain
serene, there are clearly growing worries developing
about the peace process in Sri Lanka's Sinhalese
heartland. END COMMENT.


11. (U) Minimize considered.

NOVAK