SRI LANKA CLOSE TO ENDORSING PSI

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000971 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016 TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC PREL CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA CLOSE TO ENDORSING PSI Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Foreign Secretary Palihakkara told Ambassador June 8 that the MFA had "made some headway" on obtaining GSL consensus on participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Palihakkara said that he had sent a letter to the Ministry of Defence and to the President's office stating that MFA recommended participation. He added that Sri Lanka had some consultations with India on this issue because it potentially involves interdiction in this neighborhood, and Sri Lanka "does not want to step on (Indian) toes." The Indians, he said, told them that they have some reservations about PSI, but are still considering it. Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence people have some concerns, he said because of that Indian ambivalence. Palihakkara said that, speaking personally, he thought Sri Lanka should aim to sign on before India, so it would not appear that Sri Lanka was simply following India's lead. ¶2. (C) Ambassador raised PSI that same afternoon in a meeting with Defence Secretary (and President's brother) Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa said that he had the previous day sent a letter to the MFA and the President's Office stating that the MOD favored participation in PSI. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: With MFA and MOD both on board, it appears the only thing needed for PSI endorsement is approval of the President's office. We will follow up there to see where things stand. LUNSTEAD