SRI LANKA NOT DECIDED ON G-4 FRAMEWORK RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001198

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025
TAGS: PREL CE UNSC
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA NOT DECIDED ON G-4 FRAMEWORK RESOLUTION

REF: STATE 126870

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASONS 1(B) AND (D)
.


1. (SBU) Ambassador raised issue of G-4 Framework Resolution
on UNSC Expansion with Foreign Secretary Palihakkara on July
8, using points in reftel. Ambassador added that we
recognized that Sri Lanka had given public support to the
G-4's proposal for UNSC seats, but that this did not
necessarily mean that Sri Lanka had to support this
particular Resolution.


2. (SBU) Palihakkara responded that Sri Lanka's support for
the G-4 was "particularly for India and Japan." He agreed
that this was distinct from support for the Framework
Resolution. He said that Sri Lanka had decided not to
co-sponsor the resolution, "despite many requests." Sri
Lanka was "keeping an open mind" and "recognized lots of
difficulties" with the Resolution. He added that the process
of continually adding amendments to the Resolution made it
more problematic, and that the outcome of the recent African
Summit added further complications.


3. (C) In an earlier separate conversation, Foreign Minister
Kadirgamar told Ambassador that China was lobbying heavily to
kill the Japanese bid. In fact, China recently had sent a
special envoy to Sri Lanka solely for this purpose.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: Seems to us Sri Lanka is a potential "no"
vote or at least an abstention if the Resolution comes to a
vote, particularly if we can emphasize distinction between
support for G-4 UNSC membership--which Sri Lanka is publicly
wedded to--and support for this Resolution. Sri Lanka is
also caught in a potentially painful squeeze between Japan
and China.
LUNSTEAD