Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO610
2008-06-24 11:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA: HIGH LEVEL INDIAN DELEGATION URGES

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000610 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HIGH LEVEL INDIAN DELEGATION URGES
POLITICAL SOLUTION

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 SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000610

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: HIGH LEVEL INDIAN DELEGATION URGES
POLITICAL SOLUTION

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary. Indian Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan,
Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Defense Secretary
Vijay Singh made an unannounced, two-day visit to Colombo
from June 20-21 to meet with Sri Lankan officials, military
service chiefs, and Tamil political party leaders. Indian
DCM A. Manickam told Charge on June 23 that the visit was
intended to lay the ground work for India's participation in
the early August SAARC Summit in Colombo. The GOI expressed
serious concerns about security for the summit and plans to
bring its own security assets. The delegation stressed the
need for a political rather than a military solution to Sri
Lanka's conflict, and urged the GSL to fully implement the
13th Amendment and demonstrate its commitment to genuine
devolution of power. The delegation also raised concerns
about the quantity and sophistication of weapons the GSL is
receiving from Pakistan and China. Following media
speculation about the visit, which was kept under wraps,
opposition parties have asked the ruling coalition to
disclose the purpose and outcomes of the visit. End Summary.

High Level Indian Team Meets GSL Counterparts
and Tamil Party Leaders
-------------- -


2. (U) Indian Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Foreign
Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Defense Secretary Vijay
Singh made an unannounced, two-day visit to Colombo from June
20-21. The group met with Sri Lankan Defense Secretary
Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa and
Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, and separately with
President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They also attended a dinner
hosted by Central Bank Governor Ajit Cabraal, and met with
the heads of the security forces and the police. Local press
reported that Sri Lankan government sources said the talks
were a "continuation of close dialogue between the
countries," including follow up on the discussions held when
a high-level Sri Lankan delegation visited New Delhi in
September 2007.


3. (U) In addition to the government meetings, the
delegation met with prominent Tamil leaders including Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan, Eelam People's
Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda, and Ceylon
Workers Congress leader Arumugan Thondaman. The delegation
reportedly emphasized the need for Tamil unity to negotiate a
political solution with the Sinhalese-majority government.
Devananda told local press that he shared his views on the

current situation with the Indians and asked for assistance
to develop the north.


4. (U) Indian officials told Colombo journalists that
"India hopes that Sri Lanka can find a peaceful solution to
the ethnic conflict within the framework of a united Sri
Lanka, acceptable to all the communities. There are no
military solutions." The delegation described the visit as
"constructive and successful."

GOI Delivers Messages on SAARC Security,
Peace Process, Devolution, and Arms Procurement
-------------- -


5. (C) Indian DCM A. Manickam told Charge on June 23 that
the visit was intended to lay the ground work for India's
participation in the early August SAARC Summit in Colombo.
The Indians expressed serious concerns about security for the
summit and possible LTTE attempts to prevent or disrupt the
event. India plans to bring its own security assets to the
summit, including two MI-17 helicopters to transport Indian
delegates around Colombo, and will support Sri Lankan efforts
to provide naval and air protection. The GSL welcomed this
assistance.


COLOMBO 00000610 002 OF 002



6. (C) Manickam said the delegation wanted to reiterate
India's position on the conflict prior to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's arrival in Colombo for the SAARC summit.
The delegation stressed the need for a political rather than
a military solution to the conflict. India urged the GSL to
pursue a political approach that addresses the grievances of
Sri Lanka's Tamils and other minorities and to consider
returning to peace talks with the LTTE. They said another
year of bloodshed was not sustainable or acceptable. The GSL
replied that it needs another year to achieve a military
victory and that a political solution is not possible as long
as LTTE leader Prabhakaran is alive.


7. (C) On the East, the group urged the GSL to fully
implement the 13th Amendment and demonstrate in the East that
it is committed to genuine devolution of power to the
provincial councils. The delegation expressed concern that
the GSL is not allowing newly elected Chief Minister
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillaiyan) to exercise the
full range of his authority. Manickam said that Basil
Rajapaksa was receptive to this argument, while the President
was "more evasive."


8. (C) Lastly, Manickam said the delegation raised concerns
about the quantity and sophistication of weapons the GSL is
receiving from Pakistan and China. The Indians argued that
the weapons, such as anti-tank missiles, that Sri Lanka is
obtaining from China and Pakistan are not compatible with the
threat posed by the LTTE.


9. (C) Manickam characterized the tone of the meetings as
cordial, but said the delegation delivered strong messages on
the need for a political solution and concern over Sri Lankan
large-scale procurement of weapons from sources other than
India. However, he said he did not expect the GSL to back
down from its pursuit of a military solution or its
procurement of weapons from China and Pakistan.

Opposition Wants an Explanation
--------------


10. (U) Following intense speculation in the local media,
Sri Lanka's opposition parties have asked the ruling
coalition to disclose the purpose and outcomes of the visit
to the public. UNP member John Amaratunga said the visit
came at a time when the country was "at a crossroads on the
economic and war fronts" and that his party is "eager to know
the true position of the visit." The JVP has drawn parallels
to 1987 when "India intervened to stop the military operation
against the LTTE and later forced a peace accord on the Sri
Lankan Government." JVP Parliamentary group leader Anura
Kumara Dissanayake said "it is the responsibility of the
government to disclose the details of the visit" and dispel
the rumors appearing in the press. Other media theories
about the purpose of the trip include appeasing Tamil Nadu
sentiments, planning for Indian military intervention when
the Mullaithivu campaign reaches a decisive stage, conveying
Indian concerns over Sri Lanka's ties to China and Pakistan,
and finalizing a peace package.


11. (C) COMMENT: The visit has drawn significant local
attention and sparked wide speculation about its purpose and
outcomes, with some observers hopeful of increased Indian
engagement and others skeptical of Indian interference. The
delegation notably did not meet with the any Sinhalese
opposition leaders, including the UNP leadership, although
Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Narayanan and Menon in New
Delhi in early June. Post agrees with Manickam's assessment
that the GSL is unlikely to end its military campaign or it
arms procurement from China and Pakistan, but we expect that
Indian pressure may have some positive impact on the GSL's
strategy in the East.
MOORE

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