CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF SRI LANKA FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000708 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB - A. RENZULLI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF PTER MASS SOCI EAID EUN CE, CA SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTIVE OF SRI LANKA FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT STRATEGY REF: STATE 92641 Classified By: PolMinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Canada is supportive of the U.S. strategy to promote freedom of movement in Sri Lanka (reftel),according to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) South Asia Deputy Director Jonathan Yendall. He cautioned that he was still seeking to coordinate a "whole of government" response with his counterparts at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA),which controls the budget authority for many of the initiatives envisioned in the U.S. strategy. He nonetheless strongly underscored Canadian interest in joining efforts with the U.S. on Sri Lankan freedom of movement, and underlined that the U.S. strategy "closely tracks that of Canada." ¶2. (SBU) Yendall promised a fuller response "soon," once key CIDA staff have returned from travel with their Minister o/a September 16. Visit Canada,s North American partnership community at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BREESE