SRI LANKA: PRE-NOTIFICATION OF SANCTIONS: A.Q.

S E C R E T COLOMBO 000055 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019 TAGS: ETTC EFIN KNNP MNUC PARM PINS PREL CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PRE-NOTIFICATION OF SANCTIONS: A.Q. KHAN AND ASSOCIATES REF: A. STATE 2534 ¶B. STATE 2508 Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,c,d). (S) DCM provided Ref (A) points regarding the imposition of sanctions on Buhary Seyed Abu Tahir under the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act, the Export Import Bank Act, and Executive Orders 12938 and 13382 to MFA Director General for Multilateral Affairs Aruni Wijaywardena on January 12. DCM emphasized that we were informing the Government of Sri Lanka of the sanctions in the spirit of our close partnership on non-proliferation and that the designation decision was not directed at Sri Lanka or any other country. Wijaywardena was familiar with the case and remarked that the actions taken would be clearly understood by her government. She undertook to brief the Foreign Minister on Ref (A) points. Separately, DCM briefed Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, and his response was the same. Blake