Bio-data on Jayantha Dhanapala, new chief of

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000795

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, INR/NESA

NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05-17-14
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Bio-data on Jayantha Dhanapala, new chief of
the Sri Lankan government's Peace Secretariat

Refs: (A) Oslo 895 (Notal)
- (B) Colombo 772, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (SBU) On May 14, President Kumaratunga's office
issued a press release naming Jayantha Dhanapala as the
new Secretary General of the Sri Lankan government's
Peace Secretariat (see bio-data below). (The Peace
Secretariat, technically known as the "Secretariat for

SIPDIS
Coordinating the Peace Process," was formed in 2002, and
helps develop and implement GSL policy in regard to the
peace process with the Tamil Tigers. Dhanapala will
replace Bernard Goonetilleke, who was forced out from
his Peace Secretariat and foreign secretary postings
after the April 2004 parliamentary election.)
Dhanapala's appointment is effective June 1. Dhanapala
is a former ambassador to the U.S. (1995-97) and a
former UN Under-Secretary General for Disarmament
Affairs (1998-2003). (Japanese peace envoy to Sri Lanka
Yasushi Akashi told DCM May 17 that he knows Dhanapala
well from their work together on disarmament issues at
the UN, and thinks very highly of him.) Per Reftels,
along with Dhanapala, Mission understands that
Presidential Adviser Mano Tittawella and Foreign
Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara will also be involved in

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policy formulation on peace process issues.
(Palihakkara was formerly deputy chief of the Peace
Secretariat and ambassador to Thailand.) Foreign

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Minister Kadirgamar almost certainly will also be
involved in peace-related issues, too.


2. (C) Bio-data on Dhanapala follows:

Begin Bio-data:

JAYANTHA CUDA BANDARA DHANAPALA, 65, served as UN
Undersecretary-General for Disarmament Affairs from 1998
to 2003. In addition to his duties in that office,
Dhanapala served concurrently as a Commissioner in
UNSCOM. Dhanapala served as ambassador and permanent
representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva from
1984 to 1987, and also served as ambassador to the U.S.
from 1995 to 1997. He retired from Sri Lanka's foreign
service in 1997 following the conclusion of his
Washington assignment. Other highlights of Dhanapala's
career include serving as director of the UN Institute
for Disarmament Research in Geneva from 1987 to 1992 and
as director of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Division
of the Sri Lankan MFA during Sri Lanka's chairmanship of
the NAM in the late 1970s.

One of the most well-known Sri Lankans on the
international stage, Dhanapala is an engaging
interlocutor who has a wide depth and breadth of
knowledge on many topics. He is believed to be close to
President Kumaratunga, although he has not publicly
involved himself in Sri Lankan politics. There are
reports that he came into conflict with Foreign Minister
Kadirgamar while he (Dhanapala) was ambassador to the
U.S. It is not clear what the state of his relationship
is with Kadirgamar at this time. If the two do not get
along, it could spell problems for policy formulation on
peace issues. Dhanapala has not made many public
comments regarding his views on the peace process, but
he has publicly spoken out in favor of a negotiated
settlement of the ethnic conflict. He is believed,
however, to be wary of putting too much trust in the
Tamil Tigers. Dhanapala is considered an effective
manager and coordinator. This is good for the Peace
Secretariat which is a busy office and often needs to

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complete complex items on a time-sensitive basis. He is
friendly to the U.S. but has been critical regarding the
war in Iraq and what he sees as U.S. overreaching in
terms of civil liberties in the war against terrorism.

Dhanapala has published several books and numerous
articles, and has been a lecturer on various topics. He
was educated at the University of Perideniya in Sri
Lanka and the University of London's School of Oriental
and African Studies. He also has a masters from
American University in Washington in international
affairs. Originally from Kandy in central Sri Lanka,
Dhanapala is married and has two children. His father
was a well-regarded civil servant and his mother a
schoolteacher. Dhanapala speaks excellent English and
likes soccer. He is Sinhalese Buddhist.

End Bio-data.


3. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD