Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO8
2005-01-02 10:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

TFXO01: MALDIVES AND SRI LANKA, SITREP NO. 6,

Tags:  AEMR CASC PREL EAID CE MV 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000008 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING,
GARVELINK
BANGKOK OF USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN
DELHI FOR FAS
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2015
TAGS: AEMR CASC PREL EAID CE MV
SUBJECT: TFXO01: MALDIVES AND SRI LANKA, SITREP NO. 6,
JANUARY 2

REF: COLOMBO 0001 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMB. JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

----------
SRI LANKA
-----------

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000008

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING,
GARVELINK
BANGKOK OF USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN
DELHI FOR FAS
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2015
TAGS: AEMR CASC PREL EAID CE MV
SUBJECT: TFXO01: MALDIVES AND SRI LANKA, SITREP NO. 6,
JANUARY 2

REF: COLOMBO 0001 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMB. JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD. REASON: 1.4 (B,D).

--------------
SRI LANKA
--------------


1. (U) American Citizens: The number of Americans confirmed
killed stands at 7; 67 reports of missing Americans received
by the Consular Section remain unresolved; 267
welfare/whereabouts cases have been resolved.


2. (U) Casualty Figures: According to the Ministry of
Social Services, the number of people killed in the December
26 tsunami has reached 29,729; 5,240 remain missing.


3. (C) U.S. Actions/Assistance: On January 2 the
Ambassador hosted a meeting of COMs from members of the core
group. Brigadier General Panter, the head of the Sri Lanka
JTF, is expected in Sri Lanka late January 2. About 200 U.S.
Marines are expected in Sri Lanka as part of the disaster
relief effort by January 3. A total of seven AH-60
helicopters are expected in Sri Lanka by January 3. The
DATT, accompanied by a member of the Disaster Relief
Assessment Team (DRAT),met with Defense Secretary Ashoka
Jayawardene and the three Sri Lankan service chiefs on
January 2 to brief on overall U.S. assistance and on
capabilities possible under assistance provided by the U.S.
military. DATT emphasized to Jayawardene that the Ambassador
wants U.S. assistance in Sri Lanka to be part of a balanced
geographic response to the disaster. Jayawardene will brief
President Kumaratunga the evening of January 2 and expects to
receive her approval. AID Mission Director, USAID/OFDA DART
leader and poloff met with S. Puleedevan, head of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Peace Secretariat, at
the Norwegian Ambassador's residence on January 2 to brief on
USG assistance to Sri Lanka, including the north and east
(septel). Six members of the Los Angeles Fire Department
disaster response team, who are under contract to USAID/OFDA,
arrived in Sri Lanka January 2 to be part of the DART team.


--------------
MALDIVES
--------------


4. (SBU) A combined team (Embassy, DART, DATT, DRAT) arrived
in Maldives on January 2 to meet with government officials
and conduct initial assessments. The first planeload of
USAID/OFDA supplies (carrying plastic sheeting for temporary
shelter, water bladder, jerry cans) is expected in Maldives
January 3, while the first planeload of DOD-supplied
humanitarian rations is expected on January 3 as well.
LUNSTEAD