SRI LANKA REQUESTS U.S. HELP ON THAI EXTRADITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000898 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017 TAGS: PREL KJUS PTER CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA REQUESTS U.S. HELP ON THAI EXTRADITION REQUEST REF: COLOMBO 842 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Further to a June 13 conversation the Ambassador had with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollogama in which the Minister briefed on the GSL's efforts to work with partners in Southeast Asia to stop LTTE weapons procurement and transfer (reftel),Acting Foreign Secretary Maduwegedera contacted the Ambassador to request U.S. diplomatic assistance in support of an extradition request Sri Lanka has made to Thailand. ¶2. (C) Maduwegedera said three Sri Lankans, Mr. Aseervathan Sathiyapawan, Mr. Sujith Gunapala, and Mr. Thevaraja Saseekaran were arrested at the Princes Hotel, Ranong, Thailand on the 12th May 2003 by Royal Thai Police with a cache of arms and ammunition believed to be destined for the LTTE. The Thai Government subsequently found them guilty and sentenced them under the Firearms Act. On 15th June 2006 the three were released under a Royal Parole and transferred to the Immigration Detention Center. They were subsequently re-arrested while attempting to leave on a flight from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur on 26th June 2006. The Government of Sri Lanka requested their extradition on 27th June 2006. Maduwegedera said the GSL would appreciate any efforts the US could make with the Thai Government to encourage the Thais to support the GSL request. The Ambassador promised to forward the GSL request to Washington. BLAKE