SRI LANKA: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002010 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV MOPS PREL CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON DEFENSE SECRETARY FAILS SIPDIS Classified By: Acting DCM Michael R. DeTar, for reasons 1.4(b, d). ¶1. (SBU) Unknown assailants, but most likely the LTTE ("Tamil Tigers"),attacked the motorcade of Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa (the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa) with explosives on December 1. The method of delivery was apparently a vehicle-borne "claymore" mine. According to the director of the nearby National Hospital, 14 were injured in the blast, one critically. Seven of the wounded were soldiers. There was one man dead from bullet wounds at the scene, possibly an assailant. Both the hospital and the army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe confirmed that Gothabaya Rajapaksa was not harmed. ¶2. (SBU) The site of the blast, the intersection of Dharmapala Mawatha and Flower Road, is less than half a mile from the Embassy. Embassy staff heard an explosion at about 10:35 a.m. local time, followed by short bursts of gunfire. Community Liaison Officer was an eyewitness to the incident, traveling in a car approximately 50 meters ahead of the motorcade when the explosion occurred. Vehicles and pedestrians were cleared from the scene as rescue vehicles and security forces arrived. Debris from a vehicle blocked the intersection, and security forces immediately cordoned off the area. ¶3. (C) A military source told us that the vehicle driven by the presumed suicide bomber exploded a claymore mine after crashing into the Defense Secretary's motorcade. There were conflicting reports as to whether the vehicle involved in the apparent suicide attack was a three-wheeled motor rickshaw, a motorcycle, or a taxi. Some witnesses spoke of two explosions. Brigadier Samarasinghe told us that the identity of the bombers was not yet known. However, the attack bears all the usual hallmarks of the LTTE. ¶4. (C) Post convened the Emergency Action Committee. We concluded that there were no Embassy personnel unaccounted for, and there were no indications of a continuing threat to American citizens. EAC verified that the buses bringing children of Embassy personnel home from the Colombo International School would avoid the intersection where the attack occurred. ¶5. (SBU) The consular section issued a warden notice cleared by Department about an hour after the attack advising American citizens to avoid the affected area, as well as Sri Lankan military and government motorcades and facilities. Ambassador Blake sent a condolence note to Secretary Gothabaya, expressing relief that the Secretary himself was not harmed. Ambassador will use a previously scheduled news conference on World Aids Day to issue a statement condemning the attack and naming the LTTE as the likely perpetrators. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Gothabaya Rajapaksa has taken a hard line against the LTTE ("Tamil Tigers" ) since becoming Defense Secretary about a year ago. During his tenure, the military SIPDIS has pursued an aggressive campaign against Tiger attempts to regroup and rearm, at times (like the LTTE) conducting offensive operations in violation of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. Observers have been expecting a high-profile attack by the LTTE around the time of Tiger leader Prabhakaran's annual November 27 "Heroes' Day" speech. An assassination attempt against a senior government leader was one of the more likely scenarios. This attack will COLOMBO 00002010 002 OF 002 undoubtedly lead to more pressure from GSL hardliners to strike back at the LTTE. BLAKE