SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY WELCOMES IDP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000691 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: FOREIGN SECRETARY WELCOMES IDP BENCHMARKS REF: STATE 069689 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Charge met with Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on July 8 to deliver reftel points and USG benchmarks for progress on IDP conditions and resettlement. Kohona assured Charge that the GSL had no hidden agenda when it comes to the IDPs and that all IDPs would be resettled as soon as possible. Kohona noted that less than two months have passed since the end of the war and predicted that momentum on returns would continue to build. Kohona said that while the GSL intends to demine, rebuild, and resettle people as quickly as possible, there is no document outlining a point-by-point process or plan. Charge emphasized that clear communication on the GSL's strategy will reassure donors, silence critics, and make it easier for the USG to provide additional assistance. He encouraged the GSL to collaborate as closely as possible with donors. Kohona welcomed U.S. engagement and commented that working together in meeting the benchmarks will be a good way to get bilateral relations back on a firmer footing. Charge also raised Sri Lanka's pending IMF loan request and the recently issued U.S. travel warning with Kohona. END SUMMARY. Help Us Help You -------------- ¶2. (C) Charge met with Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on July 8 to deliver reftel points and USG benchmarks for progress on IDP conditions and resettlement. Charge acknowledged GSL efforts to address IDP needs and the USG desire to assist. He outlined for Kohona the seven areas of concern - and benchmarks - outlined reftel and noted that Post would be sending regular reports to Washington on progress on these issues. Charge highlighted USG assistance to date, including demining funding, equipment and training, and food aid and humanitarian assistance. He urged the GSL to provide as much information as possible regarding progress in meeting the benchmarks to inform Post's reporting to Washington and facilitate future assistance. Kohona provided a POC in the Ministry for ongoing coordination, and Charge left a copy of the benchmarks with Kohona. Momentum is Building -------------- ¶3. (C) Kohona assured Charge that the GSL has no hidden agenda when it comes to the IDPs. He said all the IDPs would be resettled as soon as possible, commenting that it is too expensive to keep them any longer than necessary. He said the GSL is spending $1 million per day just to feed the IDPs. Kohona informed Charge that separation of LTTE cadres from civilian IDPs was complete and that most will be rehabilitated. He added that IDPs were already returning to Mannar, Jaffna was now ready for returns, 10,000 IDPs were being returned to Eastern Province, family reunification was ongoing ,and 80,000 identification cards have already been issued. Kohona said that the GSL welcomed and appreciated USG assistance on demining but reiterated the GSL request for assistance to the military, which he claimed has a better performance record on demining than the INGOs. Kohona noted that less than two months have passed since the end of the war and predicted that momentum on returns would continue to build. "Give us another month," he said, " and you'll see a stream of people heading home." He cautioned that the biggest obstacle to returns would be getting the UN to certify the safety of each village, noting that this has caused significant delays in the East. The 180-Day "Plan" COLOMBO 00000691 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶4. (C) Charge stressed that open and transparent communication of the GSL's humanitarian and resettlement plans would help address many international community concerns about the IDP situation. He urged Kohona to make available the GSL's 180-day plan. Kohona said that while the GSL intends to demine, rebuild, and resettle people as quickly as possible, there is no actual document outlining a point-by-point process or plan. Charge re-emphasized that clear communication on the GSL's strategy will reassure donors, silence critics, and make it easier for the USG to provide additional assistance. He also encouraged the GSL to collaborate as closely as possible with donors. Travel Warning and IMF loan Revisited -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Charge noted that criticism of the USG for its travel warning on Sri Lanka has continued in this week's press. He reiterated that the Embassy's travel warning is updated regularly, is based solely on our assessment of security conditions, and is not a vehicle by which we send political messages. Kohona expressed his concern that the warning failed to reflect the end of the war and said it was "unacceptable" to include any attacks that occurred before May 2009. He encouraged the US to consider revising the travel warning at an early date, noting his objective that tourists should perceive Sri Lanka as being no more risky than any other country in the region. ¶6. (C) Charge raised the issue of the pending IMF loan, noting that despite criticism of the US over this issue, the US has not threatened to block the loan for political reasons. He added that the US would carefully consider economic conditions once Sri Lanka's Letter of Intent is submitted to the IMF. Kohona said he looked forward to US support of the loan. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Kohona provided little new information, but seemed to welcome US engagement on IDPs. He commented to Charge at the end of the meeting that "working together on meeting these benchmarks will be a good way to get things back on track." Post will also deliver these points to Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Saramarasinghe next week and will submit the first progress report on the benchmarks by July 31. MOORE