TFX001: SITREP NO. 3 ON SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002073

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS, SES-O, AND CA/OCS
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING,
GARVELINK
USPACOM FOR FPA
NEW DELHI FOR FAS
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN
GENEVA FOR USAID - NANCY KYLOH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014
TAGS: CASC AEMR EAID PGOV PREL CE MV
SUBJECT: TFX001: SITREP NO. 3 ON SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES,
DECEMBER 30

REF: COLOMBO 2070 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMB. JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

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SRI LANKA
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1. (U) American Citizens: The number of American citizens
confirmed killed in the December 26 tsunami stands at 7; 116
remain unaccounted for; 180 welfare/whereabouts cases have
been resolved. All American and LES employees of the
Embassy, USAID and IBB have been accounted for. According to
the Ministry of Tourism, 100 foreigners have been reported
killed in the disaster so far.


2. (U) Casualty Figures: According to most recent
estimates from the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL),the
casualty toll has reached 24,743. The eastern coastal
district of Ampara has registered the highest number of
deaths (as many as 13,000). Casualty figures from areas
controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are
difficult to confirm. According to local press reports, 25
coastal villages in the LTTE-controlled district of
Mullaitivu were completely obliterated.


3. (U) Government Efforts: The GSL is publicizing efforts
to provide relief in the north and east, following criticism
in the Tamil press and on the LTTE website for focusing
assistance on the Sinhalese south. Following President
Kumaratunga's December 29 appeal for national unity (Reftel),
LTTE leader Prabhakaran issued a public statement conveying
his sympathy to Muslim and Sinhalese "brethren" affected by
the disaster. The Tiger chief's reference to the Sinhalese
majority as "brethren" is unprecedented in the 21-year ethnic
conflict. President Kumaratunga is meeting with ambassadors
of selected missions, including the U.S. Ambassador, at 6:30
p.m. local time on December 30.


4. (U) U.S. Efforts: One OFDA assessment team returned
from Trincomalee District on December 30. Two teams remain
in the field and are expected to return December 31. The
first planeload of emergency supplies provided by OFDA funds
is expected in Colombo December 31.


5. (C) PACOM: 30 members of the PACOM Disaster Relief
Assessment Team (DRAT) have arrived in Sri Lanka. Members of
the group and DATT had a productive meeting with Secretary to
the President W.J.S. Karunaratne and secretaries of 12
ministries on December 30. Members of the DRAT, two members
of the USAID/OFDA assessment team and DATT will helicopter
over disaster-affected areas (on a coastal route from
Kalutara to Ampara) to assess damage on December 31. The
initial military airlift of relief supplies is expected to
land in Colombo the evening of December 30. The
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is expected to arrive in Sri
Lanka on January 7, while the Marine Expeditionary Unit is
expected to arrive January 4.


6. (SBU) Wave rumors: At mid-day on December 30 Foreign
Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara contacted the Ambassador about

SIPDIS
reports received from the Indian government of another tidal
wave expected to hit southern India. Palihakkara said that
the Indian Foreign Secretary had told him that the
information came from a U.S. company, Terra Research, which
he believed was based in Portland, Oregon. The Foreign
Secretary asked for U.S. help in verifying the reports of an

SIPDIS
impending tsunami. The Ambassador contacted the Tsunami
Warning Center in Honolulu, which dispelled the rumor.

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MALDIVES
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7. (U) American Citizens: As of COB on December 30, no
American citizens had been reported killed. Two Americans
were unaccounted for in Maldives.

8. (U) Government Efforts: The Government of the Republic
of Maldives (GORM) reports contact with all 19 atolls,
although some of the islands within these atolls remain out
of contact. According to information received from UNDP, the
Government has reported that all islands (presumably with the
exception of those that remain out of contact) have been
provided with a three-day supply of food (rice, flour and
sugar) from emergency reserves. Electricity remains out on
14 of the inhabited islands.


9. (U) Foreign Assistance: The UNDAC/OCHA team arrived in
Maldives late December 28. To date, the GORM reports
receiving pledges of USD 500,000 from bilateral donors and
USD 450,000 from the UN. In addition, according to the UNDP
ResRep, the World Food Program will provide USD 500,000 in
emergency food and other supplies.


10. (U) U.S. Assistance: The first delivery of U.S. relief
supplies (plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, water
bladders and jerry cans) is expected to arrive on December

31. A member of the USAID/OFDA assessment team, accompanied
by an emboff, is expected to arrive in Maldives on January 2
to coordinate the distribution of relief materials.




LUNSTEAD