Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO971
2006-06-08 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA CLOSE TO ENDORSING PSI
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0971 1591123 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081123Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3628 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0958 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3030 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9697 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0098 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2198 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0064
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).
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
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