SRI LANKA: JOINT DEMARCHE PRESENTED ON EXERCISE

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000370 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/RA AND ISN/WMDT (TERHAAR, SCHILLER, LOWE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: JOINT DEMARCHE PRESENTED ON EXERCISE PLANNING GROUP MEETING IN SEOUL REF: A) STATE 22354 B) STATE 9099 ¶1. (SBU) Pol Chief, accompanied by Russian and Korean counterparts, presented the invitation (ref a) for the Exercise Planning Group Meeting to Sri Lankan MFA Assistant Director for Multilatleral Affairs Gihan Indraguptha on March ¶19. The Korean political counselor also provided a folder containing full logistical and organizational details for the event. ¶2. (SBU) Indraguptha indicated the GSL's interest in attending. However, he noted that a lack of funds for foreign travel would probably prevent Sri Lanka from attending either the meetings in Seoul or the planned Model Guidelines Document follow-on workshop in Garmisch, Germany later in the month (ref b). He inquired whether either the U.S. or other Global Initiative partners might be able to provide travel funds. BLAKE