SRI LANKA: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR WELCOMES USG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000055 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, MCC FOR D. NASSIRY AND E. BURKE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR WELCOMES USG ASSISTANCE IN THE EAST REF: COLOMBO 1208 Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On January 8, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa outlined for Ambassador and the visiting 1210 team the GSL's ambitious development agenda for the East and welcomed USG assistance on a wide range of policy initiatives. Rajapaksa highlighted the government's progress in the East so far, but was candid about areas where the government still has work to do, including improving the security environment ahead of upcoming local elections. Rajapaksa particularly welcomed US expertise on development in the East, something that will be crucial if the GSL is to succeed in its efforts to use the East to win the "hearts and minds" of the Tamil and Muslim minorities populations in the region. End Summary. Time to Focus on the East -------------- ¶2. (C) On January 8, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa met with Ambassador, USAID mission director, POLOFF and the visiting 1210 team, in town on a three week TDY to assess opportunities for USG assistance in stabilizing the East, and to discuss the GSL's various development initiatives in the East. Rajapaksa said the eastern part of Sri Lanka had been neglected for many years, including the period of British rule, and welcomed USG support, especially technical knowledge, in the government's attempts to develop the region. He also noted with enthusiasm the limitless potential for development in the East. The region lacks basic infrastructure, good schooling, and adequate administrative services, he said, but is blessed with good resources such as a natural harbor, good beaches and easy access to the Bay of Bengal. Furthermre, Rajapaksa noted that the successful developmnt of the East--with a mix of Sinhalese, Tamil, ad Muslim communities--would serve as a model for inclusive development that could be replicated throughout the country. A Few Tasks Taking Priority -------------- ¶3. (C) Rajapaksa noted that the GSL was concentrating mainly on three tasks in its attempts to rapidly develop the East. First, the GSL was concentrating on security in the region. If a security incident occurred in the area, he said, development initiatives, including investment, would face an immediate and significant setback. The GSL hoped to strengthen security by building confidence amongst the local communities. Recruiting Tamils into the police, and training new recruits to be conversant in both Sinhalese and Tamil, would help build trust, he said. Retired Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando, also in the meeting, has been given responsibility for implementing police reforms in the East. Fernando said he has sent over 200 police officers to India for training in community policing. ¶4. (C) Second, the GSL was concentrating on the development of the civil administration in the area. Rajapaksa noted that the GSL hoped to finish its task of providing basic civil administration--including the functioning of schools and hospitals--by January 18. Rajapaksa said the GSL was close to 90% finished with providing basic services such as electricity to areas that were previously under LTTE control. ¶5. (C) Third, the GSL was focused on demining efforts in the region. Rajapaksa noted that the GSL had made tremendous progress in its demining efforts, but was now operating at a slower pace because the military was no longer involved. Rajapaksa noted that only 14,000 out of the roughly 125,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) that were displaced in COLOMBO 00000055 002 OF 002 early 2007 remained to be resettled in the East, and that the remaining batch were only being delayed because of the slow demining operations. Taming the Paramilitaries Will Take Time -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador noted that free and fair local government elections would likely prove impossible given the free-reign of paramilitaries in the area. Rajapaksa acknowledged more needs to be done and said that the government was attempting to teach groups such as the TMVP democratic principles, but that it would not occur overnight. The paramilitaries would want security assurances before they laid down their arms and sincerely joined the democratic process. History had taught groups such as the EPDP that if they laid down their arms they would be killed off by the LTTE, he said. ¶7. (C) Rajapaksa said the GSL was forging ahead with elections for nine divisions in Batticaloa District which were previously under LTTE control. He noted, however, that the East was not quite ready for sensitive provincial council elections which could stir up ethnic tensions. More Needed to Win Hearts and Minds -------------- ¶8. (C) Rajapaksa said the GSL was attempting to win back the confidence of the local population, but needed the donor community's help with providing shelter and livelihoods to resettled IDPs. He noted that despite the GSL's best efforts to provide adequate housing, shelter continued to be a major problem. Although the government had provided the agricultural community with supplies, he said, it was worried about farmers' ability to utilize the help and about non-farmers' ability to find work. ¶9. (C) COMMENT: Rajapaksa outlined an ambitious development agenda for the GSL in the East, and encouraged USG support and dialogue on a range of policy issues. He was particularly interested in the technical expertise the visiting 1210 team could provide and inquired about the possibility of a debrief after the team's journey to the East next week. It was also heartening that he stressed the principles which have been put forward by the Ambassador and other diplomats including the importance of maintaining the ethnic balance and transitioning to a civil administration. Despite his apparent pride and enthusiasm for the GSL's achievements in resettling large numbers of IDPs and providing services and infrastructure, Rajapaksa was frank about the need to improve the security situation in the area. He seemed, however, to lack a clear vision of how to strengthen security, including the reigning in of paramilitaries operating in the region. Without a secure environment, it is unlikely that the local elections planned for next month will be free and fair. A strong security environment will be crucial if the government hopes to use the local elections as a model for future provincial elections that would almost certainly take place under a more ethnically mixed and tense atmosphere. BLAKE