Canada Shares U.S. Views on Challenges, Way Forward in Sri

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000085 NOFORN SIPDIS AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO APP WINNIPEG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/26 TAGS: PREL PHUM CE CA SUBJECT: Canada Shares U.S. Views on Challenges, Way Forward in Sri Lanka REF: STATE 16163 CLASSIFIED BY: Scott Bellard, Political Minister Counselor, Ottawa, POL; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary. Canada's analysis of the challenges the international community faces in Sri Lanka "tracks almost identically" with that of the U.S. Canada is nonetheless less optimistic than the U.S. about Sri Lanka's long-term future in light of the undercutting of democratic institutions and the rule of law. Canadian officials have repeatedly voiced their concerns directly to Sri Lankan officials in Ottawa and in Colombo. Canada sees China, Iran, and Russia as now playing "unhelpful roles" in Sri Lanka. Canada will monitor the upcoming congressional elections closely and welcomes meetings of likeminded nations. End Summary. ¶2. (C/NF) According to Jonathan Yendall, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Director for South Asia, Canada's analysis of the challenges that the international community faces in Sri Lanka "tracks almost identically" with that of the U.S. (reftel). Yendall cautioned that Canada remains less optimistic than the U.S. about Sri Lanka's long-term future, however, given President Rajapaksa's current maneuvering to silence the opposition. Yendall shared that "important and very senior" civil society representatives in Sri Lanka have recently told Canadian officials in Colombo that they are "deeply worried about the long-term implications of Rajapaksa's undercutting of democratic institutions and the rule of law." He described the attempts to "silence the opposition" along with the "recent forcing out of generals" and the "many detained journalists" as a "really serious emerging issue" for Canada. Yendall shared that senior Canadian officials in Ottawa and Colombo have conveyed to their Sri Lankan counterparts repeatedly and consistently since the election that Rajapaksa "needs to commit seriously to reconciliation and the rule of law." He commented that signs of Rajapaksa's willingness to go down that path "have not been encouraging." ¶3. (C/NF) Yendall added that Canada "is not clear on the way forward" for the international community, even as "we all agree on the problems facing Sri Lanka." He analyzed that the international community is constrained by Rajapaksa's frequent tendency to see criticism from the international community as a "conspiracy against him" and his proclivity for telling foreigners "where they can put their suggestions." Another constraint on changing Rajapaksa's behavior is the "unhelpful roles" that China, Russia, and Iran are playing right now on the island, which apparently lead Rajapaksa to feel no urgency in responding to entreaties on human rights, rule of law, and democratic institutions. He lamented that Canada's annual C$22.5 million in bilateral aid pales in comparison with the "many infrastructure projects by the Chinese." ¶4. (C/NF) In light of these current troubling developments, Yendall underlined that Canada views the upcoming congressional elections on April 8 as an important milestone for gauging Rajapaksa's willingness to move toward genuine reconciliation. Ottawa will be watching carefully how the government conducts itself during the vote and treats the opposition and civil society during the campaign. ¶5. (C/NF) Yendall suggested that the international community may want to sit down together in Colombo or elsewhere to "reassess our future engagement" after the election. He commented that Canada is still not sure that a "contact group" is the best way to go, but remains open to the idea. In any event, he described it as "important" that likeminded countries "meet regularly in Colombo" and expressed appreciation for the frequent and close exchanges with U.S. interlocutors. He underscored that Canada plans to be active in monitoring the elections, possibly through the Commonwealth or in association with the European Union. He noted that Canada had given C$130,000 for election monitoring during the presidential campaign. JACOBSON