SRI LANKAN PARLIAMENT PASSES SUPPRESSION OF

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001190

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM CE LTTE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN PARLIAMENT PASSES SUPPRESSION OF
TERRORIST FINANCING BILL


1. (U) On July 7 in a vote of 81-21, the Sri Lankan
parliament passed a bill giving effect to the Convention
on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing.


2. (U) The quorum of 102 parliamentarians voted along
political lines with the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party,
main opposition United National Party, National Unity
Alliance, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, and four members of the
Sri Lankan Muslim Congress voting in favor. Twenty members
of the Tamil National Alliance and one ethnic Tamil from the
United National Party voted against. Parliamentarians from
the Jathika Hela Urumaya were not in attendance.


3. (SBU) Comment: This vote illustrates that, although
operating from a minority position, the President can
assemble the necessary votes including her former partners
the JVP, to move legislation forward.
LUNSTEAD