Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO693
2009-07-10 10:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT PROMISES DEVOLUTION...LATER

Tags:  PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000693 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT PROMISES DEVOLUTION...LATER

REF: A. 08 COLOMBO 000815

B. 08 COLOMBO 000723

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000693

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT PROMISES DEVOLUTION...LATER

REF: A. 08 COLOMBO 000815

B. 08 COLOMBO 000723

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a June 30
interview with The Hindu reaffirmed his willingness to pursue
a political solution, but said he was waiting for two things:
participation and cooperation of the Tamil National Alliance
(TNA) and a fresh mandate from the people. The government's
decision to shut down the Secretariat for Coordinating the
Peace Process (SCOPP) has created uncertainty about the
future of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) and
SCOPP Director Wijesinha told local media that the APRC would
be given one month to complete its deliberations and submit
its final report. On July 3, President Rajapaksa convened
the inaugural session of the Presidential Committee on
Development and Reconciliation, but Embassy contacts say the
new committee was formed to mitigate domestic and
international criticism over the lack of progress on a
political solution and that they do not expect it to achieve
significant results. Post will continue to impress on the
GSL that meaningful progress toward power sharing, devolution
and reconciliation should be a current, rather than future,
priority. END SUMMARY.

PROMISES CONTINUE, BUT TIMELINE SLIPS


2. (U) President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a June 30 interview
with The Hindu reaffirmed his willingness to pursue a
political solution, but said he was waiting for two things:
participation and cooperation of the Tamil National Alliance
(TNA) and a fresh mandate from the people. Rajapaksa told
the Hindu that a political solution will come after his
re-election as President, but did not indicate when a
presidential election might be held. (Note: The election
could be held as early as November 2009, and many observers
expect it will take place in early 2010.) He cautioned,
however, that the TNA must "know that they can't get what

they want" and that there is "no way for federalism in this
country." He added that his idea of a second chamber of
parliament was intended to get representatives from the
provinces involved in national policy-making, and reiterated
his desire not to "impose any arrangement" on the country.
When asked about foreign concerns over triumphalism in Sri
Lanka, the President said he was not worried because "the
Tamils are happy, the Muslims are happy." He also argued
that the perception that the presidency has become too
powerful is inaccurate and that he has power only over
security matters.

APRC RUNNING OUT OF TIME


3. (U) The government's decision to shut down the
Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process has created
uncertainty about the future of the All Party Representative
Committee. SCOPP coordinated the APRC sessions and SCOPP
Director Rajiva Wijesinha or his designate was responsible
for convening APRC meetings. Wijesinha told local media
that the APRC would be given one month to complete its
deliberations and submit its final report.


4. (U) APRC Chairman Tissa Vitharana told local press in
early July that the final set of APRC proposals would include
the establishment of state bodies for policymaking and
monitoring of contentious national issues such as police,
land, power and water, but would not include any "absolute or
unchecked power devolution to the periphery." He said the
central government would "decide on the policy framework" as
well as "who will exercise control over the implementation of
these powers within the provinces and in line with national
needs." The APRC proposal will recommend a new constitution,

COLOMBO 00000693 002 OF 002


which would abolish the executive presidency and install a
Westminster form of government, and establish a
constitutional court to deal with issues that might arise
when the new constitution is implemented. He said that
separation of powers between the center and provinces would
be made clear in the new constitution and that each would be
able to exercise their powers without interference. The new
constitution would establish an upper house of parliament
made up of eight representatives from each of the nine
provinces to ensure that no legislation seeking to undo
devolution could be passed.

NEW COMMITTEE SHOWS LITTLE PROMISE


5. (U) On July 3, President Rajapaksa convened the
inaugural session of the Presidential Committee on
Development and Reconciliation, which was attended by more
than 20 politial parties, including the Janatha Vimukthi
Peramua (JVP),United National Party (UNP) and TNA.
Oficials from SCOPP, APRC, and the Finance and Plannng
Ministry and Foreign Ministry also participated. Embassy
contacts say that the president's invitation for parties to
participate came only one day in advance of the meeting,
giving them almost no time to prepare and that no agenda was
provided in advance. Opposition party contacts say the new
committee was formed in response to domestic and
international criticism of the government for failing to make
progress on political reconciliation and that they do not
expect it to achieve significant results.


6. (C) COMMENT: The President's statement that he does not
intend to pursue devolution until after his re-election casts
doubt on the prospective outcomes of his new reconciliation
committee. The interview itself, while widely covered in
local press this week, has yet to generate much public
reaction or debate. We may see some discussion of it in the
weekend papers, which tend to include more analytical and
opinion pieces. A senior UNP MP reiterated to Charge on
July 10 the widely held view that the President will not
pursue devolution ahead of the election for fear of
jeopardizing the currently strong political support of his
southern Sinhalese base. Vitharana's preview of the APRC's
final proposals indicate that they are not confined to the
contents or spirit of the 13th amendment, and may contain
elements, such as the abolishment of the executive
presidency, which are likely to be non-starters with the
Rajapaksa administration. Post will continue to impress on
the GSL that meaningful progress toward power sharing,
devolution and reconciliation should be a current, rather
than future, priority.
MOORE