Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1003
2007-07-17 12:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
EASTERN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED
how-toVZCZCXRO4881 OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC DE RUEHLM #1003 1981206 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171206Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6472 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0501 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0291 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7275 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5384 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3916 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1203 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3987 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3073 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7868 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5523 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0323 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2215 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001003
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: EASTERN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED
REF: A. COLOMBO 977
B. COLOMBO 971
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001003
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: EASTERN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED
REF: A. COLOMBO 977
B. COLOMBO 971
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On July 16, unidentified gunmen shot and killed
Chief Secretary of the Eastern Provincial Council H.M. Herath
Abeyweera in his office in Trincomalee. The gunmen fired
several rounds at point blank range before fleeing the scene.
It is unclear how the assailants were able to enter
Abeyweera's well-guarded office. Government Defense
Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said a full investigation has
been ordered. Trincomalee police say they suspect the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),and President
Mahinda Rajapaksa described the killing as "an assassination
by terrorists" in a statement to the press.
2. (U) Abeyweera served more than 30 years in the
government's administrative service, including as Government
Agent of Ampara during the 2004 tsunami. Upon retirement,
and shortly after the Northern and Eastern Provinces were
de-merged, he was appointed to the position of Chief
Secretary of the Eastern Province, the third highest ranking
SIPDIS
position in the provincial government.
3. (C) COMMENT: Abeyweera's murder appears to be the
LTTE's first retaliatory strike following the Government's
victory claim in the East. This attack, if indeed committed
by the LTTE, demonstrates the group's continued presence in
the area. Similar continued attacks could further erode the
security situation, disrupt civil administration, and
potentially delay announced elections (ref A),all of which
would serve to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka and
disrupt their master plan for the East.
MOORE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR D NASSIRY AND E BURKE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: EASTERN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ASSASSINATED
REF: A. COLOMBO 977
B. COLOMBO 971
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On July 16, unidentified gunmen shot and killed
Chief Secretary of the Eastern Provincial Council H.M. Herath
Abeyweera in his office in Trincomalee. The gunmen fired
several rounds at point blank range before fleeing the scene.
It is unclear how the assailants were able to enter
Abeyweera's well-guarded office. Government Defense
Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said a full investigation has
been ordered. Trincomalee police say they suspect the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),and President
Mahinda Rajapaksa described the killing as "an assassination
by terrorists" in a statement to the press.
2. (U) Abeyweera served more than 30 years in the
government's administrative service, including as Government
Agent of Ampara during the 2004 tsunami. Upon retirement,
and shortly after the Northern and Eastern Provinces were
de-merged, he was appointed to the position of Chief
Secretary of the Eastern Province, the third highest ranking
SIPDIS
position in the provincial government.
3. (C) COMMENT: Abeyweera's murder appears to be the
LTTE's first retaliatory strike following the Government's
victory claim in the East. This attack, if indeed committed
by the LTTE, demonstrates the group's continued presence in
the area. Similar continued attacks could further erode the
security situation, disrupt civil administration, and
potentially delay announced elections (ref A),all of which
would serve to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka and
disrupt their master plan for the East.
MOORE