Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO959
2003-06-04 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 85 (06-04-03)
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000959
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/13
TAGS: CE MV AGMT
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 85 (06-04-03)
Classified by Ambassador Wills, Reasons 1.5 (b, d)
CONTENTS: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
-------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000959
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/13
TAGS: CE MV AGMT
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 85 (06-04-03)
Classified by Ambassador Wills, Reasons 1.5 (b, d)
CONTENTS: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador met with JVP General Secretary
Tilvin Silva and senior MP Vijitha Herath in his
office earlier today (June 4). The discussion took
place in a positive atmosphere, with the JVP members'
expressing a desire to develop a discourse with the
USG, even if they did not always agree with USG
policies. The Ambassador kicked off the meeting by
expressing concern with the JVP's stance re the peace
process and economic reform. When queried on the
peace process, Silva (who spoke almost exclusively for
the JVP side) said his party did not see the LTTE's
actions during this ceasefire/peace process period as
sincere, but understood that a military solution to
the conflict was out of the question. Silva further
said that the JVP favored negotiations and would
support devolution if favored by a majority of the Sri
Lankan people.
2. (C) The JVP insisted on explaining the group's
economic policy views. Silva commented that the party
supported international trade and foreign investment,
but only when Sri Lanka had a strong national economy
so as not to imperil either its own or its trading
partners' economies(!?). Finally, Silva commented
that the timeframe for a SLFP-JVP alliance was perhaps
one to two months down the road. (Note: Colombo 859
indicated that the probable SLFP-JVP alliance was much
more imminent than that.) Silva said the JVP's
desire, if the group gained power, was to deal with
the major issues of the day, rather than revamp the
government system. With the JVP taking a relatively
moderate tack in the meeting, the Ambassador praised
the JVP on two fronts: mastery of parliamentary
procedure and respect for democratic institutions; and
outstanding record of transparency and lack of
corruption. Silva and Herath responded warmly to
these comments. (Note: Both Silva and Herath
understood English, but responded in Sinhala through a
translator.) (POL)
WILLS
SIPDIS
OFFICIAL INFORMAL
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/13
TAGS: CE MV AGMT
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 85 (06-04-03)
Classified by Ambassador Wills, Reasons 1.5 (b, d)
CONTENTS: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH JVP
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador met with JVP General Secretary
Tilvin Silva and senior MP Vijitha Herath in his
office earlier today (June 4). The discussion took
place in a positive atmosphere, with the JVP members'
expressing a desire to develop a discourse with the
USG, even if they did not always agree with USG
policies. The Ambassador kicked off the meeting by
expressing concern with the JVP's stance re the peace
process and economic reform. When queried on the
peace process, Silva (who spoke almost exclusively for
the JVP side) said his party did not see the LTTE's
actions during this ceasefire/peace process period as
sincere, but understood that a military solution to
the conflict was out of the question. Silva further
said that the JVP favored negotiations and would
support devolution if favored by a majority of the Sri
Lankan people.
2. (C) The JVP insisted on explaining the group's
economic policy views. Silva commented that the party
supported international trade and foreign investment,
but only when Sri Lanka had a strong national economy
so as not to imperil either its own or its trading
partners' economies(!?). Finally, Silva commented
that the timeframe for a SLFP-JVP alliance was perhaps
one to two months down the road. (Note: Colombo 859
indicated that the probable SLFP-JVP alliance was much
more imminent than that.) Silva said the JVP's
desire, if the group gained power, was to deal with
the major issues of the day, rather than revamp the
government system. With the JVP taking a relatively
moderate tack in the meeting, the Ambassador praised
the JVP on two fronts: mastery of parliamentary
procedure and respect for democratic institutions; and
outstanding record of transparency and lack of
corruption. Silva and Herath responded warmly to
these comments. (Note: Both Silva and Herath
understood English, but responded in Sinhala through a
translator.) (POL)
WILLS