CHANDRIKA BIDS FAREWELL

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001969

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL CE LTTE
SUBJECT: CHANDRIKA BIDS FAREWELL

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) Outgoing Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga (CBK) hosted a dinner for the diplomatic corps on
November 16, the evening before the election which would
determine her successor. About 100 guests--the entire
diplomatic corps, including multilateral and UN agency heads,
plus various Sri Lankans who have been close to her, such as
Peace Secretariat Head Jayantha Dhanapala and Special Adviser
Mano Tittewella--attended. Showing that she was not going to
change her style simply because her Presidential tenure was
ending, CBK showed up for her 8 o'clock party at 9:25.


2. (C) As guests took their places for dinner sometime
around 10:30, Ambassador was seated directly at CBK's left
hand, UK High Commissioner at her right, and Norwegian
Ambassador directly across at the head table. CBK commented:
"Well, wouldn't the bearded fellows (i.e., the JVP) have a
fit if they saw this." Throughout the dinner, Kumaratunga
opined on various subjects:

--"My only regret is that if my party's Presidential
candidate (Mahinda Rajapakse) wins, he may destroy everything
I have tried to do in the last 11 years."

--Kumaratunga said she had heard the theory about a month ago
that the LTTE wanted Rajapakse to win, calculating that
Rajapakse's own beliefs, coupled with the ideas of his
Sinhala chauvinist allies the JVP and JHU, would show the
world that the Tamil demand for independence was justified.
Now, following the LTTE call for Tamils not to vote, she
began to wonder if that theory was correct. She also thought
the LTTE might use paid Sinhalese agents to cause problems
after Rajapakse won--burning churches, attacking Tamils
etc.--to further bolster their cause. This could lead to
"UDI" -- a unilateral declaration of independence.

--She confirmed press reports that one of Rajapakse's
brothers, a former Sri Lankan Army officer now resident in
the US, had planned to fly up to Jaffna along with 300 Army
deserters labeled as "election observers." She had
personally ordered this movement blocked.

--She had reached agreement with UNP Presidential candidate
Ranil Wickremasinghe that if he won, she could stay as
President through November 23, when the armed forces were
planning a send-off ceremony. (Under the Sri Lankan
constitution, the winning candidate can be sworn in any time
after the election, and must do so within 14 days.) She hoped
that Rajapakse would grant her the same courtesy.

--She did not have any firm plans yet for her post-Presidency
life. "I want to just relax for the first year." Ranil had
offered her whatever position she wanted afterward, and
wanted the two parties to cooperate in governing. Her reply:
"I've been offering that to you for the last 10 years. It's
too bad you didn't take it up."

--She does not know where she will live. The security forces
have told her that her personal house is not secure, as it is
overlooked by a number of other buildings. The government is
readying a house for her, but it will not be finished for a
while. "Perhaps I will just live in the street."


3. (C) COMMENT: I had expected a more emotional, perhaps
even lachrymose Chandrika at this moment. Instead, she was
subdued and a bit reflective, and certainly making no attempt
to hide her opinions. She made no effort to hide her disdain
for her own party's candidate. She no doubt hopes that a
Ranil Wickremasinghe victory will allow her some continuing
role in Sri Lankan public life. End Comment.
LUNSTEAD