EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING DECEMBER 17, 2008

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001143 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, CA AND SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING DECEMBER 17, 2008 REF: STATE 129801 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting on December 17, 2008. The EAC discussed post's security posture in light of the information provided reftel. The EAC discussed the current threat environment, the need to have RSO staff present in Colombo during the holiday persiod, and whether to place the MSG Detachment and the LGF on alert. The EAC also reviewed possible soft targets such as major hotel chains, which are located in current high security zones. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On December 17, 2008, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an EAC meeting. Present for the meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission, Regional Security Officer, Assistant Regional Security Officer, Regional Affairs Officer, Political Officer, Economic Officer, Management Officer, Consular Officer, Public Affairs Officer, USAID Director, Defense Attache' OPSCO, International Broadcasting Bureau Station Chief, and Community Liaison Officer. The agenda items for the meeting were: -- Holiday Security Planning and Security Environment Review -- The necessity of placing MSG Detachment on alert -- Review of leave schedule for RSO office and LGF personnel -- Security for possible soft targets in and around Colombo ¶3. (SBU) The RSO averred, and the EAC concurred, that the threat described reftel was not applicable to the security situation in Sri Lanka. Neither the RSO nor any other EAC members had information regarding a specific and credible threat to Americans or American interests in Sri Lanka. The EAC agreed that the threat to the official and expatriate American communities remains "wrong place/wrong time" - i.e. being in proximity to a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack on a Government of Sri Lanka target - political, economic, military or police personnel or facilities. The EAC also agreed that post's security posture is commensurate with the actual threat and recommended no additional measures at this time. Moreover, EAC did not believe that the security situation warrants issuing an amended Warden notice. ¶4. (SBU) The RSO advised the EAC that neither the RSO nor the ARSO planned to leave the country during the holidays and that one or both would be in Colombo at any given time during the period. The Local Guard Force supervisors would be on duty. The RSO had not augmented the LGF, but few, if any, guards would be taking leave and the LGF would not experience any reductions in force. Only one MSG had asked for leave, but the Detachment expects two incoming MSGs. Therefore, the Detachment would actually have one additional Marine on duty during the holidays. RSO further noted that he had recently met with the Colombo country council of the Overseas Security Advisory Council to discuss the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and soft target security in general. Regarding hotels, restaurants, and other potential soft targets, RSO noted that most are located within high security zones, in which GSL security forces are on high alert and vehicles and pedestrians are subject to search. In that respect, the EAC concluded that security for potential soft targets is commensurate to the threat. ¶5. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security environment during the holidays and report further developments, if any, septel. POC for this message is RSO Michael V. Perkins, who may be contacted at 94.11.249.8885, 94.11.249.8888 (MSG Post 1 after regular business hours),or via the classified and unclassified email systems. Blake