Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04COLOMBO107
2004-01-21 11:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 008 (01/21/04)

Tags:  AMGT CE MV 
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This 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000107 

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 008 (01/21/04)

Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5
b and d.

CONTENTS: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
AMBASSADOR'S CHAT WITH MORAGODA
HUMAN RIGHTS/DEMOCRACY FUNDING FOR MALDIVES?
PLANS FOR NATIONAL DAY IN MALE'
TWO MORE CHURCH ATTACKS

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
--------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000107

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 008 (01/21/04)

Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.5
b and d.

CONTENTS: ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
AMBASSADOR'S CHAT WITH MORAGODA
HUMAN RIGHTS/DEMOCRACY FUNDING FOR MALDIVES?
PLANS FOR NATIONAL DAY IN MALE'
TWO MORE CHURCH ATTACKS

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
--------------


1. (C) Israeli Ambassador David Danieli (based in New
Delhi),in town to present credentials to CBK, called on the
Ambassador January 21. Danieli was accompanied by Mordehai
Amihai, Director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry South and
Southeast Asia Department. DCM sat in. Danieli noted that
Israel has previously covered from Bangkok; the shift to
Delhi had just taken place with his arrival six months ago.
He noted as well that this is the third time Israel and Sri
Lanka have had relations. Relations were first established
in 1958 but cut by the GSL in 1970. Started up again in
1984 but then the plug was pulled again by Premadasa.
Danieli said his government is very happy with the
relationship. SL embassy in Tel Aviv has just added a
commercial attache amid hopes that commercial ties will grow
(two-way trade in 2002 was $75 million, mostly in gems).
GSL Commerce Minister Ravi K and others have been to Tel
Aviv; Danieli trying to arrange for "one of our economics
ministers" to come to Colombo sometime in the next year.
According to Danieli, Israeli population here totals fewer
than half a dozen. Danieli said he had had a useful session
with Foreign Ministry Secretary Bernard Goonitileke who,
Danieli said, had pledged that he would order a review of
GSL voting on Israeli issues in international fora. (The
GSL was recently helpful on the Israeli credentials issue at
the UN). Danieli also met with FM Fernando who pushed his
own UNSYG candidacy; Danieli said he will try to get
Fernando to Tel Aviv as well. We shared our views on the
local situation. (DCM)

AMBASSADOR'S CHAT WITH MORAGODA
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador met Jan. 21 with Minister Milinda
Moragoda. Here are some key snippets:
-- Moragoda is planning to go to India later this week, with
instructions from the PM to "show flexibility" when the
Indians pressure the GSL for a swift resolution to the

cohabitation crisis. He is slated to meet National Security
Adviser Mishra and Indian External Affairs Minister Sinha
during the visit. Sinha applied heavy pressure to the
President at the recent SAARC summit in Islamabad, Moragoda
said.
-- The President is showing some interest in an Indian
proposal, centered on giving the PM control over "north/east
theater military commands," as a way to resolve the impasse
over the Defense Ministry. The PM does not like that idea
much, as we have reported. That said, when the joint
President/PM committee meets, the PM has asked his
representative (Malik Samarawickrama) to "try to give the
President some comfort" on other issues and not focus on the
Defense Ministry matter. (Note: Moragoda thought the joint
committee would be meeting today, but we have heard it may
not. It was supposed to meet yesterday, as we mentioned to
you in our o/i, but the meeting was postponed.)
-- Asked about the GSL Defense Ministry team sent to New
Delhi last week to discuss defense cooperation, Moragoda
said the GSL never received a briefing of what transpired
from the President's side. Moragoda said the Indian High
Commission briefed him, however.
-- FYI: Moragoda did not seem too worried over the SLFP/JVP
alliance (see his comments in our front-channel today).
-- On economic matters, Moragoda said the GSL is concerned
about the recent IMF visit which apparently raised serious
concerns about revenue projections. Drought and consequent
electricity shortages, increasing commodity prices
(petroleum, fertilizer, etc),and currency depreciation will
likely cause the government to wobble in the face of
pressure for increased subsidies. Moragoda thought the best
strategy for dealing with the problem was to "come clean"
with the IMF in order to remain credible. Moragoda's
argument is that the IMF will be more willing to work with
the GSL if the government admits up front to not hitting its
fiscal targets. Moragoda added that the PM had not agreed
to this idea as of yet. We are reviewing the issues
Moragoda raised with a skeptical eye toward the need for
increased subsidies. We have a meeting scheduled with the
IMF in the morning to discuss the visit further. (POL/ECON)


HUMAN RIGHTS/DEMOCRACY FUNDING FOR MALDIVES?
--------------


3. (SBU) In discussing ways to increase our human rights
and democracy programming in the Maldives given recent
events there and as we develop MPP plans, our "Maldives
team" here at the Mission discussed the possibility of using
ESF funds there today. Given that AID does not have a
presence in the Maldives, however, we wonder if we could
contract the money through them, as we do for SL programs.
Is there another way for Mission to contract directly to do
democracy-building projects in the Maldives? We also
understand that DRL has some contracting authority, and
intend to discuss the matter with DRL officer Saba Ghori
during her visit to Colombo next week. We have a "rule of
law" project being implemented with the Maldives now by PAO
and we are also interested in using PD funding on other
projects if we can. Any information you could glean for us
on this matter would be extremely helpful. With the startup
of the GoRM's human rights commission and other tentative
steps toward democratization being considered there, we
think the USG should be "present at the creation," if at all
possible. Thanks. (POL)

PLANS FOR NATIONAL DAY IN MALE'
--------------


4. (SBU) We are mulling over plans to host our national day
celebration in the Maldives during the March timeframe, as
hosting both receptions (in Colombo and in Male') in July is
problematic (in the past, we have had a "Presidents' Day"
reception in Male' in February, for example). Seeing that
Jim Waller has never been to the Maldives (if we recall
correctly),we wonder if he would be interested in attending
this key function and participating in meetings with the
GoRM around that timeframe. There is also plenty of things
to do here in Sri Lanka given the ongoing cohabitation
impasse, the SLFP/JVP pact, the planned Provincial Council
elections slated for early April, etc. Please give it a
thought. (POL)

TWO MORE CHURCH ATTACKS
--------------


5. (SBU) FYI. In towns just to the east of Colombo, two
Catholic churches were attacked in the past week. There
were no injuries in either the January 15 or January 18
attacks, but church property was damaged in both incidents.
Police are investigating the attacks, but have not been able
to make any arrests (which is a consistent theme in these
church attacks). (POL)

LUNSTEAD