Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO913
2009-09-25 10:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

REQUEST FOR USG DEMINING EQUIPMENT FOR SRI LANKAN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE 
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OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHLM #0913/01 2681020
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 251020Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0568
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1916
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 8952
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7190
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5140
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3330
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 5096
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1373
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0631
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 4206
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9517
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 6818
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 1302
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3747
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000913 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR USG DEMINING EQUIPMENT FOR SRI LANKAN
GOVERNMENT

COLOMBO 00000913 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000913

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR USG DEMINING EQUIPMENT FOR SRI LANKAN
GOVERNMENT

COLOMBO 00000913 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)


1. (U) This is an Action Request for Department. See
paragraph 5.


2. (C) Officials of the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) have
often said that the release of the more than 250,000
internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently held in closed
camps cannot take place until demining operations are
completed in areas of the north and east of the country once
held by the LTTE and now saturated with landmines. The U.S.
has contributed $6.6 million this year to demining INGOs
working in these areas, but the GSL has made repeated verbal
requests to ambassador and other U.S. officials to supply
additional demining equipment directly to the GSL -- and, in
particular, the Sri Lankan Army (SLA).


3. (C) Post believes that providing demining equipment to the
GSL could advance significantly U.S. policy interests in Sri
Lanka. By speeding the pace of demining, the supply of
equipment would reduce one of the principal GSL rationales
for not releasing IDPs from the camps. Supplying equipment
directly to the GSL in addition to what we are already giving
through the INGOs also would help blunt GSL complaints that
the U.S. and other international partners play politics with
demining assistance by not dealing directly with the GSL.
Longer term, this equipment would increase the capacity of
Sri Lankan military engineers to support demining efforts as
part of future peacekeeping operations.


4. (C) Meeting these objectives, however, depends on
supplying the equipment very quickly, that is, in a matter of
weeks, not months. Post understands Washington now is
considering options for possibly making such a rapid
provision of the demining equipment. Sri Lankan presidential
advisor Basil Rajapaksa, who is the GSL pointman on demining,
has identified needs in three areas: excavation equipment,

metal detectors, and protective gear and apparel (this
equipment is described in greater detail below). Consensus
among the demining community in Sri Lanka is that of the GSL
entities involved in demining, the SLA is best positioned to
make use of such equipment, provided it takes steps to ensure
adequate training for demining personnel and proper quality
control of mine clearance activity. (NOTE: Post understands
that the Humanitarian Demining Unit of the Ministry of Nation
Building is now largely non-functioning and that the SLA is
now the lead GSL organization doing demining. The SLA
currently has an estimated 1,000 demining personnel with a
virtually unlimited capacity to expand. END NOTE.) Post
believes that provision of 1.5 to 2 million USD in equipment
would represent a significant contribution to the demining
effort and would substantially advance U.S. interests in Sri
Lanka.


5. (C) ACTION REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT: Post requests
Department identify sources of USG funding to supply demining
equipment to the GSL in the following categories:

Excavators
--------------

-- Description: These machines are essentially armored
backhoes, front-end loaders, and excavating machines (the
base) that are fitted with specialized tools used for
demining. They are perhaps the most versatile demining
platforms because of the variety of tools that can be
attached depending on the type of terrain, soil or mines
being cleared.

-- Availability: Excavators could be purchased on the regular

COLOMBO 00000913 002.2 OF 002


construction/farm equipment market and then armor and tools
produced by local Sri Lankan metal fabrication shops could be
added. Base equipment is widely available, attachments
relatively easy to fabricate by local vendors. Estimate 4-6
weeks for delivery, if base equipment is purchased
in-country.

-- Cost: 125,000 to 250,000 USD per machine, depending on
size, medium or large. Cost would include spare parts,
essential for equipment that is often operating under extreme
conditions.

Hand-Held Metal Detectors
--------------

-- Description: Hand-held devices used by manual deminers to
locate mines. More basic technology is a metal detector,
while more advanced technology uses various methods to detect
mines. Some models scan a larger area at once, some are
better for battle-area-clearance (BAC) as opposed to looking
for buried mines.

-- Availability: Widely available, multiple producers
worldwide. Probably about four weeks delivery time, not
accounting for any import-permit delays.

-- Cost: 2,000-5,000 USD per detector, depending on technology

Protective Gear
--------------

-- Description: Protective suits worn by deminers as they
clear areas, including polycarbonate visors to protect the
face and head. One demining INGO has begun purchasing suits
from a local producer and is satisfied with the results,
although others say there has not yet been sufficient field
use to determine quality.

-- Availability: Fairly widely available. Possible local
source, good manufacturer in Cambodia, and a U.S./Canadian
company is known for having the best equipment.

-- Cost: Approximately 125 USD per suit, including
visor/helmet
BUTENIS