In meeting with Ambassador, Opposition Leader

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001808

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, INR/NESA
NSC FOR E. MILLARD
PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10-17-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR CE
SUBJECT: In meeting with Ambassador, Opposition Leader
discusses peace process and cohabitation stresses

Refs: Colombo 1781, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 16, Ambassador Lunstead met
with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse. During the
discussion, Rajapakse highlighted public support for
peace, but he noted that the GSL's peace efforts were at
a crucial stage and it had to handle the matter with the
utmost care. Regarding cohabitation, he felt that the
President and Prime Minister needed to work together to
make the peace process a success. He went on to confirm
that his party's proposed alliance with the radical JVP
had been called off. In keeping with his reputation,
Rajapakse was quite amiable in personality and moderate
in his comments. END SUMMARY.

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Call on the Opposition Leader
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2. (SBU) Continuing his round of introductory calls,
Ambassador Lunstead met October 16 with Mahinda
Rajapakse, leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Rajapakse is a key figure in President Kumaratunga's Sri
Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP),the main constituent element
in the People's Alliance (PA). Poloff also attended the
meeting as notetaker.

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Ground Level Support for Peace
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3. (C) Queried about the peace process, Rajapakse
agreed with the Ambassador that it was at a crucial
stage. He added that most people were waiting to see
what would happen over the next several weeks when the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released their
counterproposals in response to the GSL's north/east
interim administration plan. With the LTTE's response
on its way, he noted that the GSL's peace efforts were
at a crucial stage and it had to handle the matter with
the utmost care. Ninety percent of the people want
peace, he stated, but the government needs to do a
better job in campaigning for support for the process in
the south. He commented that the government's approach
of late was to blame the LTTE for problems with the
peace process. By not working to garner more public
support for its peace efforts, the GSL risked increasing
support for groups like the radical, anti-peace process
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

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Cohabitation Stresses
--------------


4. (C) Turning to the cohabitation situation, Rajapakse
underlined that President Kumaratunga must work together
with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe for the sake of the
peace process. He admitted, however, that he sensed a
widening divide between the two leaders, fueled perhaps
by the President's desire to finish what she felt she
had started -- the peace process with the Tigers.
Stating that Kumaratunga would listen to the
international community, Rajapakse thought this might be
the only pressure that would encourage her to work
amicably with the PM.


5. (C) Although Kumaratunga could not be reelected in
2006 due to constitutional restrictions, Rajapakse was
sure that she remained intent on being active in
politics in Sri Lanka beyond that time. She could
retain power, he said, by convincing United National
Party (UNP) MPs to switch to the PA or by garnering
public support through an election, although she was not
considering dissolving Parliament at this time.
Referring to Anura Bandaranaike, the president's brother
and Rajapakse's political rival in the PA, he added that
he did not support Anura's call for the President's
retirement from politics after her presidential term
expires.

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No Alliance with the JVP
--------------


6. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's question,
Rajapakse stated that the proposed PA-JVP alliance was
no longer under discussion. He regretted, however, that
the few PA members still in favor of the pact were
"close confidantes" of the President. Commenting on the
recent anti-peace process marches by the JVP, Rajapakse
said several PA members including Anura Bandaranaike had
also participated without being penalized by their
party.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) In keeping with his reputation, Rajapakse was
quite amiable in personality and moderate in his
comments. This puts him at odds with Anura
Bandaranaike, his main party rival, who has grown
increasingly strident in his opposition to the peace
process and the GSL's economic reform plans. Given his
reputation as a politician with a strong base in the
Sinhalese Buddhist south, Rajapakse is an important
figure for the UNP government to keep generally on its
side with respect to the peace process. END COMMENT.


8. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD