COLOMBO EAC CONVENED ON 07/07/04 TO DISCUSS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001121

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DS FOR DS/IP/SA AND DS/IP/ITA; CA/EX; SA, SA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC CE
SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC CONVENED ON 07/07/04 TO DISCUSS
SUICIDE BOMBER


1. (SBU) A Colombo core EAC meeting was convened on 07/07/04
at 1400 after a suicide bomber detonated at 1215 at the
Colpetty Police Station (located north of the Embassy on
Galle Road.) The EAC reviewed post's security posture in
light of the bombing and determined that a warden message
would be disseminated at once and a draft Public Announcement
would be sent to Washington for clearance and dissemination.
Travel to Batticaloa on the east coast would be added to the
areas for which COM permission must be requested. Details
follow. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The A/RSO opened the meeting and outlined what is
known about the bombing: the intended target was believed to
be a Tamil politician who had an office near the police
station; the metal detector at the office went off when the
bomber attempted to gain admission to that office; the police
removed the bomber and took her to the Colpetty Police
Station, located adjacent to the office; and that the bomber
denotated once inside the police station. Five persons are
dead, including the bomber, and up to eleven are injured.
The bombing is presumed to be related to ongoing intra-Tamil
violence in the Batticaloa area in eastern Sri Lanka.


3. (SBU) The EAC determined that the lockdown status imposed
immediately after the bombing could be lifted. The north
gate to the Embassy is to remain closed for vehicular traffic
for the remainder of the working day and all vehicular
traffic is to use the south gate.


4. (SBU) A Warden Message will be issued that includes a
statement about the suicide bombing today and advising all
American citizens to avoid travel to Batticaloa.


5. (SBU) Septels will be sent covering the bombing in
greater detail.
LUNSTEAD