SRIL LANKA AND MALDIVES THOUGHTS ON TSUNAMI DONORS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000280 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS J.BRENNIG; EB/OMA; TREASURY FOR C.CARNES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN CE ECONOMICS SUBJECT: SRIL LANKA AND MALDIVES THOUGHTS ON TSUNAMI DONORS CONFERENCE AND FORMATION OF INFORMAL COORDINATION GROUP REF: SECSTATE 18955 ¶1. Ambassador delivered points in reftel during a February 2 discussion with Presidential Advisor and Head of Sri Lanka's Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) Mano Tittawella. Tittawella thought a local donor's conference in Sri Lanka presented the best opportunity for donors to discuss specific plans and assistance. He also voiced concern that smaller countries could be marginalized at an "inclusive" conference somewhere else. He agreed that a Tsunami Reconstruction Coordination Group was a good idea. SIPDIS ¶2. During a February 2 visit to Male to survey tsunami relief and reconstruction efforts, DCM delivered reftel points to Assistant Director of External Resources Aminath Didi and Finance Ministry Executive Secretary Riluwan Sharif. GORM position is that a Maldives only conference would not/not be well attended and that Maldives should try to ride the coattails of a bigger conference, perhaps a joint Sri Lanka/Maldives effort held in Sri Lanka. LUNSTEAD