Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04COLOMBO469
2004-03-17 11:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 042 (03/17/04)

Tags:  AMGT CE MV LTTE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000469 

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 042 (03/17/04)

Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b)
and (d).

CONTENTS: CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE
POLLS: PROBLEMS FOR UNP?
DCM TO PUTTULAM
CODEL DREIER/MRS. MCCAIN

CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE
--------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000469

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/14
TAGS: AMGT CE MV LTTE
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 042 (03/17/04)

Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b)
and (d).

CONTENTS: CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE
POLLS: PROBLEMS FOR UNP?
DCM TO PUTTULAM
CODEL DREIER/MRS. MCCAIN

CALL FROM THE NORWEGIANS RE LTTE
--------------


1. (C) Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar called
Ambassador Lunstead March 17 to relay a conversation the
Norwegians had with Pulithevan, head of the LTTE "Peace
Secretariat." In his discussion with the Norwegians,

SIPDIS
Pulithevan stated that the LTTE had had no involvement
with the rumors that the U.S. was supporting rebel LTTE
commander Karuna in his split with the Tiger
organization. According to Brattskar, Pulithevan went
on to say that he might even call the U.S. Embassy
personally to relay the message. To date, we have not
received any such call. (POL)

POLLS: PROBLEMS FOR UNP?
--------------


2. (U) FYI. A recently released poll on Sri Lankans'
attitudes toward the economy, peace process, and
elections reveals that the UNP might be in trouble.
While generally earning high marks for its management of
the peace process, the UNP does very poorly regarding
the economy, especially among southerners. We are not
sure of the validity of this poll by the Org-Smart
group, but it is something to mull over.


3. (SBU) Late today, we also received a copy of a poll
done by the CPA, a local think-tank, with USAID funding.
It also shows that the UNP is doing poorly, especially
on "are you better off than you were a year ago?" type
questions. We will report more on this. (POL)

DCM TO PUTTULAM
--------------


4. (U) Jim will be cutting ribbons on AID/OTI projects
in Puttulam Thursday and won't be in the office. (DCM)

CODEL DREIER/MRS. MCCAIN
--------------


5. (SBU) We will respond to the Codel Dreier
frontchannel tomorrow after we put our heads together on
their program. DATT has told the CODEL military contact
that we need info for the flight clearance pronto. Re
visitors, AMB is having Mrs. McCain over this evening
after she returns from Jaffna. (DCM)

LUNSTEAD