SRI LANKA WILL TRY TO BE HELPFUL AT IAEA BOARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001991

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR EU AORC IAEA
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA WILL TRY TO BE HELPFUL AT IAEA BOARD
MEETING

REF: STATE 212969

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


1. (C) Ambassador spoke to Foreign Secretary Palihakkara
November 23 regarding upcoming IAEA Board meeting, explaining
our decision not to seek referral of Iran to the UNSC at this
time and also our desire that this not be seen as an
endorsement of Iran's behavior. Palihakkara said that he
understood the situation and that Sri Lanka "feels Iran
should responsibly respond" to the international community.
He promised to "put your views into the pipeline."


2. (C) COMMENT: As we have noted before, Sri Lanka is
unlikely to take a harsh line against Iran, given its
dependence on Iran for a large part of its crude oil
supplies. We are still hopeful that Sri Lanka will be able
to make a statement which is helpful. The decision-making
structure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in great flux
right now. A new Foreign Minister was sworn in today, but
will not be in the job for a day or two. Palihakkara is
technically out of a job, since all Secretaries of Government
lose their positions when the Cabinet is dissolved.
Nonetheless, he is sitting in his office and taking calls.
If he is reappointed as Secretary (he said he was not sure,
but that no one had yet asked him to leave),he will be sworn
in again in a day or two.
LUNSTEAD