SRI LANKA: CODEL ENZI CALLS ON PRESIDENT

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000639 SIPDIS CODEL SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID OREP CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CODEL ENZI CALLS ON PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA, VISITS ASSISTANCE PROJECTS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In an April 14 visit to Sri Lanka, Senators Michael Enzi, Lamar Alexander and Johnny Isakson, their spouses, staff and Terrell Halaska, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education, observed US-funded humanitarian demining training, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his family home in the southwestern district of Hambantota and accompanied him to the opening of a housing site for tsunami victims, and toured a just-opened USAID playground in SIPDIS Hambantota town. The President told the Senators he retained hope that the insurgent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would still agree to meet representatives of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) for talks in Geneva later in the month. End summary. ¶2. (U) CODEL Enzi, accompanied by the Ambassador and USAID Mission Director, began its visit to Sri Lanka with a helicopter trip to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Humanitarian Demining School in Embilipitiya in the south-central district of Ratnapura where a NADR-funded program, through a contract with RONCO Consulting Corporation, has been training SLA engineers in demining since 2003. The CODEL observed a training session with mine-detecting dogs, one of which, appropriately named "Wyoming," was donated to the Sri Lankan program via Mrs. Diana Enzi's efforts with the Children Against the Mine Problem (CHAMPS) program. ¶3. (SBU) The CODEL then flew to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's family home in Weeraketiya in the southwestern district of Hambantota. (Like many Sri Lankans, the President returns to his "ancestral village" to celebrate the Sinhala New Year, which fell on April 13.) Senator Enzi offered greetings on behalf of the American people to Sri Lankans on the occasions of the Sinhala and Hindu New Years (April 13 and 14 respectively). The CODEL discussed Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) efforts to engage with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in ceasefire talks. President Rajapaksa noted that the LTTE had abruptly pulled out of talks previously scheduled to be held in Geneva April 19-21, adding that Norwegian facilitators had said the Tigers had asked for a week's delay to move cadres from the east to the north. Rajapaksa asserted he did not understand the need for the delay--he commented that the LTTE merely wanted to move some of its "fighters" to the north--but said the Norwegians might be able to reschedule the talks for a week later. (Note: Talks have tentatively been rescheduled for April 24-25 in Geneva. It is not yet clear whether the Tigers will participate.) The CODEL discussed with the President the educational challenges Sri Lanka is facing, particularly the need for qualified English teachers, and USAID Mission Director Carol Becker briefed the gathering on USAID efforts to promote education. ¶4. (U) At the President's invitation, the CODEL accompanied him to the opening of a project (not US-funded) that provides houses to 100 tsunami-affected families in a nearby town. The CODEL then traveled to the opening of a playground funded by USAID, in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Relief Fund, in the neighboring city of Tangalle. The playground is one of 85 USAID, with its local implementing partner Sarvodaya, is constructing to benefit children in tsunami-affected communities. To implement the USD 2 million SIPDIS project, USAID and Sarvodaya work closely with the Ministry of Local Governments, local municipalities and members of tsunami-affected communities to ensure community support, SIPDIS multi-ethnic participation, appropriate placement of the parks and regular maintenance. ¶5. (U) CODEL Enzi did not have an opportunity to clear this cable. LUNSTEAD