PLACEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000174 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR, I/RW, I/REC SA/INS (FOR JWALLER); SA/PAB SA/RA (FOR SCENSNY) SA/PD LJIRWIN, WREINCKENS, SHOVANEC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR OIIP ECPS OEXC SUBJECT: PLACEMENT OF PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS REF: (A) SECSTATE 21822, (B) COLOMBO 0167 ¶1. As reported in reftel (B),Colombo provided Worldnet coverage of the State of the Union address to three Sri Lankan telecasters for use during prime-time on 1/29. ITN (government-owned, island-wide penetration) and Rupavahini (government-owned, island-wide penetration),took extensive clippings from the tapes for use during their evening English, Sinhala, and Tamil newscasts. Swarnavahini (independent, Island-wide penetration),which broadcasts in Sinhala, used the clippings during its evening newscast. ¶2. A fourth telecaster, TNL (independent, Island-wide penetration) took the Worldnet feed from equipment provided by the Post, for use in its English and Sinhala newscasts. ¶3. As noted in reftel (B) the address was also carried live (at 08:00 local time),via commercial feed, by DYNAVISION (independent, urban Colombo penetration),ETV (independent, urban Colombo penetration),and MTV (independent, Island-wide penetration. ¶4. As of 1/30, no/no op-ed media reaction to the address has appeared in the Sri Lankan press. Wills