Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE107719
2009-10-17 00:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXRO2522 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH DE RUEHC #7719 2900042 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O P 170023Z OCT 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 6126 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 4004 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 6679 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 5493 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7226 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 7310 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 8871 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 6917 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 6734 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2672 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 8267 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 6656 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0895 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9825 RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD PRIORITY 0128 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3435 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 2852 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 8226 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 9705 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
UNCLAS STATE 107719
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MCAP MARR ECON EFIN EAID IMF CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN DEFENSE
BUDGET BOOST
REF: COLOMBO 943
UNCLAS STATE 107719
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MCAP MARR ECON EFIN EAID IMF CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN DEFENSE
BUDGET BOOST
REF: COLOMBO 943
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) Background: The GSL request to Parliament for
nearly $300 million in supplementary defense spending, which,
per ref A reporting, will provide for recruiting of 25,000
new soldiers and constructing new military bases in the
North, is disappointing. While we acknowledge GSL security
concerns, recognize that that the Sri Lankan armed forces
carry out a number of civilian tasks in the North, and
appreciate the need to maintain operational effectiveness,
such large increases are difficult to understand in the
context of a greatly diminished LTTE threat, the continued
presence of 250,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in
closed IDP camps, and the North's massive reconstruction
needs. The U.S. would find it difficult to support
reconstruction assistance under these circumstances, and
would also need to take a critical look at future
disbursements under the IMF program.
3. (SBU) Action Request: As soon as practicable, post
should deliver to the highest-level appropriate GSL political
and economic officials the following points:
-We acknowledge Sri Lankan security concerns, and recognize
that the Sri Lankan armed forces continue to carry out a
number of civilian tasks in the North. Moreover, we
appreciate the need to maintain operational effectiveness.
-However, we are disappointed by the government's request to
Parliament for nearly $300 million in supplementary defense
spending.
-Such a large increase (15 percent) is difficult to
understand or justify in the context of a greatly diminished
LTTE threat, ongoing humanitarian needs in the IDP camps, and
massive reconstruction demands in the North.
-The approval of the IMF program last July did much to
support improved economic conditions in Sri Lanka. It is
important that these gains not be squandered. We cannot
understand nor support increases in military spending that
would crowd out human and infrastructure investment and be
counter-productive to long-term and sustainable economic
growth.
-The supplemental military spending request underscores the
need to transfer additional responsibilities for
administration and security in the North to civilian
authorities.
-We urge the government to reconsider this request and to
direct domestic resources toward, and to utilize
international resources transparently in support of, Sri
Lanka's urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
4. (U) Please convey GSL responses to Sri Lanka/Maldives
desk officer, Anthony Renzulli, RenzulliAF@state.sgov.gov,
(202)647-178.
CLINTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MCAP MARR ECON EFIN EAID IMF CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN DEFENSE
BUDGET BOOST
REF: COLOMBO 943
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) Background: The GSL request to Parliament for
nearly $300 million in supplementary defense spending, which,
per ref A reporting, will provide for recruiting of 25,000
new soldiers and constructing new military bases in the
North, is disappointing. While we acknowledge GSL security
concerns, recognize that that the Sri Lankan armed forces
carry out a number of civilian tasks in the North, and
appreciate the need to maintain operational effectiveness,
such large increases are difficult to understand in the
context of a greatly diminished LTTE threat, the continued
presence of 250,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in
closed IDP camps, and the North's massive reconstruction
needs. The U.S. would find it difficult to support
reconstruction assistance under these circumstances, and
would also need to take a critical look at future
disbursements under the IMF program.
3. (SBU) Action Request: As soon as practicable, post
should deliver to the highest-level appropriate GSL political
and economic officials the following points:
-We acknowledge Sri Lankan security concerns, and recognize
that the Sri Lankan armed forces continue to carry out a
number of civilian tasks in the North. Moreover, we
appreciate the need to maintain operational effectiveness.
-However, we are disappointed by the government's request to
Parliament for nearly $300 million in supplementary defense
spending.
-Such a large increase (15 percent) is difficult to
understand or justify in the context of a greatly diminished
LTTE threat, ongoing humanitarian needs in the IDP camps, and
massive reconstruction demands in the North.
-The approval of the IMF program last July did much to
support improved economic conditions in Sri Lanka. It is
important that these gains not be squandered. We cannot
understand nor support increases in military spending that
would crowd out human and infrastructure investment and be
counter-productive to long-term and sustainable economic
growth.
-The supplemental military spending request underscores the
need to transfer additional responsibilities for
administration and security in the North to civilian
authorities.
-We urge the government to reconsider this request and to
direct domestic resources toward, and to utilize
international resources transparently in support of, Sri
Lanka's urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
4. (U) Please convey GSL responses to Sri Lanka/Maldives
desk officer, Anthony Renzulli, RenzulliAF@state.sgov.gov,
(202)647-178.
CLINTON