SRI LANKA: CODEL ENZI CALLS ON PRESIDENT

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000639

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CODEL

SENSITIVE

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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

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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

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project, USAID and Sarvodaya work closely with the Ministry
of Local Governments, local municipalities and members of
tsunami-affected communities to ensure community support,

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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