SRI LANKAN POST-TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE

1. (U) This cable is for the Tsunami IAWG on June 1, 2005.



2. (U) The May 27-28 visit by former President Clinton
went well and is summarized in Ref A. Media reaction is
provided in Ref B.

Update on USG Activity


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3. (U) On the ground progress continues, with the
Government continuing to claim that it is on track for
30,000 temporary shelter units by June 30. Ref C provides
the most recent USAID DART update of out-station travel.
Post is also sending one Maldivian and one Sri Lankan on a
disaster management-related International Visitor program
beginning next week.



4. (U) We are poised to finalize the SOAG with the GSL
once final funding levels are determined in Washington.
Regarding previous concerns about a possible overlap in
projects with Germany, we have told the GSL that we plan to
proceed with projects as they agreed in our signed MOU.

Debt Relief


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5. (U) We are reporting septel today receipt of a letter
from the Ministry of Finance accepting our debt relief
offer. According to the letter, however, they still have
not concluded the Paris Club MOU. As we understand it,
conclusion of a bilateral agreement has to wait for
completion of the Paris Club MOU. We will encourage the
GSL to proceed quickly.

Early Warning and 100m/200m Buffer Zone: DVC Follow-up


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6. (SBU) As we have mentioned in previous updates, we are
concerned about the coordination of all the various early
warning and emergency management programs and projects that
are underway. USAID's lead role in the development of an
early warning system, supported by USTDA funding for
emergency management and all-hazards studies, along with
expertise from FEMA and other relevant agencies would
provide much needed assistance and guidance for the
Government of Sri Lanka as it moves forward with the
development of its own Emergency Management Framework and as
it considers how best to deal with the 100m/200m buffer zone.



7. (SBU) As a follow-up to the May 19 DVC on the 100m/200m
coastal buffer zone, Post believes that follow-on travel by
two or three key participants from that exercise would be
very useful. We also understand that USTDA is planning a
visit to Colombo following the USTDA sponsored All-Hazards
Conference in Hawaii. That visit would give an opportunity
for USTDA to discuss the potential for a definitional
mission that could provide guidance to the GSL on the
establishment of an emergency management structure and the
development of an integrated early warning mechanism. Such
a definitional mission could be built on a base established
by the contacts and information gleaned during the other
visits mentioned above.

Maldives Trust Fund


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8. (SBU) We are planning to send a team to Maldives in the
next couple weeks to discuss in detail those projects that
are best suited to our donation. In light of the decision
to use the Maldives Trust fund, we need specific
instructions from Washington regarding reporting
requirements and agreement mechanisms. As we have
mentioned before, the GORM will work with us to ensure that
all monies are targeted to specific projects and they have
offered to accommodate our needs for reporting and
oversight.



9. (SBU) Post would appreciate detailed guidance on what
kind of agreement is needed to make the money available to
the trust fund, whether an MOU is required, and what kind
of oversight and monitoring mechanisms are needed. We
would urge agencies to review our previous emails in
conjunction with the GORM Funds' operations manual in order
to understand those mechanisms already in use.

LUNSTEAD