A/S SCHWARTZ PRESSES FOR EARLY RETURN OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000768

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
GENEVA FOR RMA
KATHMANDU FOR REFCOORD KATHMANDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM CE
SUBJECT: A/S SCHWARTZ PRESSES FOR EARLY RETURN OF
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

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


1. (C) Summary: In his July 25-28 visit to Sri Lanka, PRM
Assistant Secretary Eric P. Schwartz urged the government to
undertake rapid returns of internally-displaced persons
(IDPs) to their home villages and avoid prolonging the closed
camp situation in the North. In meetings with President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,
Senior Advisor to the President, MP Basil Rajapaksa, and
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, as well as civilian and
military officials directly managing the IDP camps, A/S
Schwartz received an unwavering -- and emphatic -- message
that the Government is committed to large scale returns,
including an initial return in August of up to 40,000
persons. A/S Schwartz welcomed this news and relayed the
U.S.,s strong commitment of support for this effort,
beginning with $8 million in U.S. funding to support returns
and early recovery. In his meetings and public comments, A/S
Schwartz underscored serious U.S. concerns regarding
confinement of IDPs in camps, while also affirming U.S.
commitment to helping the Government of Sri Lanka resolve the
humanitarian crisis. During the visit, A/S Schwartz
encouraged senior government officials to permit ICRC to
continue its important protection work in Sri Lanka. This
high-level visit reinvigorated a collaborative approach to
addressing humanitarian challenges at a time when the
Government of Sri Lanka increasingly bristles at
international pressure. End Summary.

2. (SBU) During his July 25-28 visit, PRM Assistant Secretary
Eric Schwartz met with senior government and military,
representatives of international humanitarian organizations
and local civil society NGOs, and other donor country
representatives, and visited Manik Farm (reported septel),a
series of camps established by the Government to accommodate
over 220,000 of the 280,000 people displaced in the last
several months of the conflict. The Government of Sri Lanka
welcomed A/S Schwartz and demonstrated its desire to place
engagement with the U.S. on a positive trajectory.
PRESIDENT: FIRST PRIORITY IS TO RESETTLE

3. (C) Following A/S Schwartz,s visit to Manik Farm on July
26, Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda and the U.S. delegation
(A/S, Charge, USAID Mission Director, and Deputy RefCoord)
flew directly to Kandy to meet with President Mahinda
Rajapaksa. The President immediately and emphatically stated
that his first priority was to resettle the IDPs, noting that
at least 19,000 will return within the next several weeks,
and commenting that he understated his estimate in order to
exceed expectations. (Comment: Other officials reported that
some 40,000 will return in August.) He noted that Sri Lanka
prioritizes returns because it is the right thing to do, not
because of outside pressure. A/S Schwartz recognized the
efforts of Sri Lankan officials to address enormous
challenges in the camps. He emphasized that the U.S. wants
to assist Sri Lanka, particularly with early returns and
recovery. The President highlighted practical needs,
commenting, "most of these people are farmers, not fighters"
who will need seeds and other livelihoods support, in
addition to broader development programs in the North. A/S
Schwartz commented to the President that Manik Farm residents
urgently wanted to know how long they would remain in the
camps and when they could return home. He observed that the
Sri Lankan brigadier responsible for civilian affairs who
accompanied him in the camps assured IDPs that they would
return home soon, and people seemed relieved to receive this
news. Simply providing information to the IDPs regarding the
Government's plan, Schwartz noted, could do much to assuage
IDPs, concerns. President Rajapaksa thanked A/S Schwartz
for raising this issue, noting that he believes his
government has "not done well enough to communicate what we

COLOMBO 00000768 002 OF 004


are doing" and characterized this as a problem within the
camps, as well as in Sri Lanka,s engagement with other
nations. (Comment: The President went to great lengths to
make clear he has ordered returns to take place soon. The
fact that little information has yet been shared with UN
agencies regarding specifics reflects a clear intention by
the Sri Lankan Government to "own" --and tightly control--
the returns process. End comment.) A/S Schwartz also urged
the President to permit international health providers
greater access to the camps; Justice Minister Moragoda
suggested this would be an issue to discuss with Basil
Rajapaksa.
DEFENSE SECRETARY: CAMPS A "SECURITY RISK"

4. (C) In a July 27 meeting with A/S Schwartz, Defense
Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa bemoaned the "ineptitude" of
INGOs in conducting demining and humanitarian assistance,
characterizing them as less efficient than the military. He
commented that the Army could complete demining work quickly,
but that lack of funding is the obstacle. (Comment: At
several points during the trip, Sri Lankan interlocutors
criticized NGOs. A/S Schwartz would generally respond that
many NGOs in Sri Lanka did excellent work, and that it was a
mistake to make categorical judgments.) When asked by A/S
Schwartz for his vision or plan for the North, the Defense
Secretary replied, "exactly what we did in the East." He
pointed out that the IDPs need roads and electricity, not
just assistance in returning. Notably, the Defense Secretary
said that he views a prolonged camp situation as a security
risk, observing that it would be easier to "control security"
if people are in small villages rather than large camps.
(Comment: A brigadier who accompanied the delegation at Manik
Farm observed that the Government does not believe that
identification and separation of combatants must be completed
before returns can begin; this task will be ongoing in areas
of return. End comment.)
SCHWARTZ URGES CONTINUED ICRC PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA

5. (C) A/S Schwartz then raised with the Defense Secretary
concerns about ICRC,s future in Sri Lanka. (Note: ICRC was
informed on June 30 in a letter from Defense Secretary
Rajapaksa that it should scale back its activities in Sri
Lanka now that the conflict has ended, a move which raised
concerns about ICRC,s continued presence in Sri Lanka. A/S
Schwartz consulted with ICRC Head of Delegation before
raising these concerns. End note.) A/S Schwartz stressed
that "if they leave (Sri Lanka),our work would become very
difficult." The Defense Secretary commented that, after 30
long years, Sri Lanka has defeated the LTTE, and wants to see
everything connected to that period eradicated. A/S Schwartz
pointed out that the ICRC performs its mandated activities
with the United States, in conducting detainee visits in
Guantanamo Bay. The Defense Secretary claimed he has no
problem with ICRC continuing to work in Sri Lanka, but does
not want it to do so in the context of its prior focus. He
said ICRC must conduct its work under a new, different
mandate, now that the conflict has ended. A/S Schwartz
stressed that the authorities and the ICRC should engage to
develop mutually agreeable arrangements.
FOREIGN MINISTER EMPHASIZES BILATERAL COORDINATION

6. (C) In a meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha
Bogollagama, A/S Schwartz emphasized the need for freedom of
movement for IDPs, and welcomed plans for significant returns
in August. He further urged the Sri Lankan Government to
permit improved access by humanitarian agencies to address
deficiencies in the camps. Bogollagama asked for A/S
Schwartz,s views on steps that could be taken to improve
bilateral coordination generally. A/S Schwartz noted that if
Sri Lanka addresses the challenges ahead in responding
appropriately to the humanitarian crisis, it would pave the
way for opportunities in bilateral coordination and support.

COLOMBO 00000768 003 OF 004


Regarding the North, Schwartz indicated that the U.S. wanted
to help in the recovery process.

7. (C) After the meeting, A/S Schwartz pulled aside the
Foreign Minister to alert him that ICRC departure from Sri
Lanka would make continued U.S. assistance much more
difficult. He told Bogollagama that he understood the
Defense Ministry was the major player on this issue, but he
strongly urged Bogollagama to make clear to the Defense
Ministry the costs of an ICRC pull-out, and to press them on
the issue. Boglollagama took careful note of our concern.
As he left the meeting with A/S Schwartz, Additional
Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, who was in the pull-aside,
indicated to A/S Schwartz that he shared the desire to work
out an arrangement with the ICRC, and urged A/S Schwartz to
press the Defense Ministry on the issue.
SENIOR ADVISOR DETAILS RETURNS PLANS

8. (C) Senior Advisor to the President and MP Basil
Rajapaksa met with A/S Schwartz amid piles of reports,
folders and maps in his office detailing the infrastructure
needs of the North. The Senior Advisor showed A/S Schwartz a
binder of IDP registration information, which he said is now
85 percent complete. Upon completion, IDPs will receive camp
identification cards. (Note: No government official has said
that ID card issuance will result in an immediate ability for
IDPs to exit the camps. End note.) When asked if a new
Competent Authority will be appointed in the North, the
Senior Advisor claimed this was not necessary, and camp
administration would revert to civilian control under the
Government Agent. (Comment: The military may believe
otherwise; the newly appointed Vanni commander, whom A/S
Schwartz met at Manik Farm, told us that he would soon be
named Competent Authority. End Comment.) Rajapaksa
estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 families, or up to 40,000
individuals, will return to areas in Mannar, Vavuniya, and
even Kilinochchi Districts in August. He further noted that
significant returns would continue through the rest of the
year. Phases of return in the fall would include returns to
all areas of Mannar District, several areas of Vavuniya
District, and certain areas in Mullaitivu District. He said
each returnee family would receive 25,000 rupees in cash
(about 220 US dollars),shelter materials, and livelihoods
support (such as fertilizer, seed paddy, and agricultural
tools). Further, the Senior Advisor reported that 6,003
elderly persons have already been released from the IDP
camps, and an additional 9,426 are approved for release. A/S
Schwartz raised with Rajapaksa his concern that IDPs in the
camps are not receiving information about the Government's
plan, and that such information would ease concerns within
the camps. Rajapaksa agreed that IDPs should have more
information, and said he planned to meet with IDPs in the
camps in an upcoming visit to the North. A/S Schwartz
reiterated to Rajapaksa the need for the GSL to allow
international NGOs to deliver health care inside the camps to
supplement what is being provided by the Ministry of Health.
This, he said, would be especially important once the monsoon
rains arrive in September and the danger of communicable
diseases further increases.
WIDE PRESS COVERAGE CONVEYS U.S. CONCERNS

9. (SBU) In all his meetings with government interlocutors,
A/S Schwartz foreshadowed for them his comments to the press,
indicating that they would include expressions of concern on
issues where further progress is required, along with an
expression of continued support for humanitarian aid to Sri
Lanka.

10. (U) A/S Schwartz conducted a press conference on July 27
in which he expressed deep U.S. concern about the confinement
of the vast majority of displaced Sri Lankans, as well as
concerns about limitations on access for international
humanitarian organizations. At the same time, he announced

COLOMBO 00000768 004 OF 004


$8 million to support the return and early recovery effort.
He also said he fully intended to accept the government's
invitation to return to Sri Lanka to observe the return
process. The event was widely reported in international and
local media. Live clips made the late news on two TV
channels, Derana and MTV. Tamil language papers emphasized
the hardships suffered by the displaced persons and NGOs,
lack of access to them. The Sinhala language papers, on the
other hand, played up Schwartz,s acknowledgment of
government efforts to improve conditions and promises to
return displaced persons soon. The official press release
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was upbeat and
constructive, noting that the Government welcomed wider
engagement with the US and international community in
reconstructing the Northern Province and returning the IDPs.
COMMENT

11. (C) It is clear that the Government has undertaken a
massive effort to gather information regarding reconstruction
needs in the North, and is planning a significant return
effort, even if details necessary for UN and NGO action have
not been shared outside the Government. The visit of A/S
Schwartz was extremely useful in chasing down disparate
claims about the Government's plans for the IDP camps and
their residents. The Government's stated goal of releasing
over 9,000 elderly persons and returning up to 40,000 IDPs to
their home villages in the month of August is welcome news
and, if realized, will send a positive signal to the
international community. It was evident from the visit of
A/S Schwartz that the most senior levels of Government are
aware of the immediacy of international concern regarding the
closed IDP camps. The real question is how, and how soon,
the Government will meet its stated goals. A/S Schwartz,s
visit signaled that the U.S. would continue to stress -
privately and publicly - the importance of respect for
humanitarian principles, and also demonstrated the strong
U.S. interest in playing a positive role and assisting the
rapid return of IDPs in conditions of safety and dignity.

12. (U) This cable has been reviewed and cleared by
Assistant Secretary Schwartz.
MOORE