US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO676

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000676 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR SEC/AD HARRY MANCHESTER 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: NONE, MIssion Security 
SUBJECT: USAID/SRI LANKA SECURITY PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR FY 05 AND 
FY 06. 
 
 
ENTIRE TEXT IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
REF: SECSTATE 58307 OF 3/16/04 
 
THIS CABLE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE USAID DIRECTOR AND 
CLEARED BY THE RSO AND IMO. 
 
A. OVERVIEW 
 
1) THE USAID MISSION IN SRI LANKA HAS BEEN LOCATED ON THE 
GROUND FLOOR OF A USG-OWNED BUILDING, THE AMERICAN CENTER, 
AT #44 GALLE ROAD IN COLOMBO, SRI LANKA SINCE JANUARY 1999. 
USAID, THEN IN A PHASE DOWN MODE, MOVED IN FOLLOWING 
SECURITY ENHANCEMENT CONSTRUCTION. THE EXTERIOR FAADE AND 
OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING CANNOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE OF 
ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE INTERIOR WALLS OF THE 
BUILDING HAVE BEEN RECONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE 15 MINUTE 
PROTECTION.  AT PRESENT, THE BUILDING PROVIDES A MODERATE 
LEVEL OF SAFETY AND SECURITY REQUIRED FOR THE THREAT LEVEL 
IN COLOMBO, SRI LANKA.  THE OCTOBER 2003 OIG INSPECTION OF 
THE AMERICAN CENTER POINTED OUT A NUMBER OF PHYSICAL 
SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS, SUBJECT TO OBO FUNDS 
AVAILABILITY. 
 
2) FOLLOWING PEACE INITIATIVES IN 2002, USAID WROTE A NEW 
STRATEGY WHICH WAS APPROVED IN THE FALL OF 2003. THE SIZE 
OF BOTH THE PROGRAM AND THE STAFF WILL GROW. THERE ARE 
CURRENTLY 39 APPROVED POSITIONS, 8 US (3 DH and 5 USPSC, 
AND 31 FSN. AT THIS TIME, 28 OF THE POSITIONS ARE 
ENCUMBERED. THE STAFF IS SQUEEZED INTO THE FULL FIRST FLOOR 
OF THE AMERICAN CENTER. 
 
3)WE RECENTLY REPORTED THAT, EVEN AFTER THE FALL 2003 
RECONFIGERATION OF SPACE, THE OFFICE REMAINS WOEFULLY 
INADEQUATE TO MEET OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. FOLLOWING THE 
APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM STRATEGY LAST OCTOBER, USAID SOUGHT 
APPROVAL TO SEEK COMMERCIAL OFFICES IN THE CITY. THIS 
REQUEST WAS DENIED BY IG/SEC WHO ADVISED US TO REMAIN HERE 
AND CONSIDER USING TRAILERS. 
 
4) WE RULED OUT TRAILERS BECAUSE OF COSTS. ALTERNATIVELY, WE 
PREFER TO CONSTRUCT A ONE OR TWO STOREY ANNEX HERE, IN THE 
REAR OF THE AMERICAN CENTER. WE REQUEST APPROVAL FROM OMS, 
OBO AND IG/SEC TO ENGAGE IN PRELIMINARY SURVEYS - INCLUDING 
COSTING - OF THE OPTIONS. THE ONE STOREY OPTION CAN BE 
ACCOMPLISHED FOR UNDER $100,000. HOWEVER, DURING A RECENT 
TDY, DELHI EXO DENISE HERBOL, MADE A CONVINCING CASE FOR US 
TO OPT FOR A TWO STOREY ANNEX. THIS DISCUSSION WAS INCLUDED 
BECAUSE IF SUCH AN EXPANSION IS APPROVED, WE WILL NEED TO 
GET IG/SEC AND OMS GUIDANCE ON HOW BEST TO FUND AND 
"HARDEN" THE PROPOSED ANNEX WITH SECURITY DOORS/WINDOWS. 
 
B. PHYSICAL SECURITY IN SRI LANKA 
 
1) THE STREET AND RESIDENTIAL CRIME THREAT HERE IS CURRENTLY 
RATED AS HIGH. THAT SAID, FOR EXPATRIATES, CRIME AND 
VIOLENCE IS NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN MOST AREAS OF THE CITY 
DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. EXPATRIATES ARE NOT SINGLED OUT 
OVER SRI LANKANS AS TARGETS FOR STREET CRIME BUT THEY DO 
REMAIN TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY REQUIRING THEM TO PRACTICE 
SOUND PERSONAL AND RESIDENTIAL SECURITY PRACTICES. ALTHOUGH 
THE CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA AND LTTE 
CONTINUES TO HOLD, TRAVELERS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE 
CAUTION WHEN WORKING IN AND NEAR GOVERNMENT FACILITIES AND 
TO AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS WHICH COULD BECOME VIOLENT. 
ALTHOUGH THE CEASE FIRE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA 
AND THE LTTE HAS HELD FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THERE HAVE 
NOT BEEN ANY TERRORIST ATTACKS, TRAVELERS AND STAFF ARE 
ADVISED TO BE WATCHFUL OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS BECAUSE OF THE 
OUTSIDE POTENTIAL FOR A TERRORIST INCIDENT. 
 
2) PETTY CRIME IS COMMON IN COLOMBO AND TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO 
AVOID USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN RADIO OR HOTEL 
TAXIS.  TRAVELERS ARE TOLD TO KEEP MONEY OR JEWELRY, WHEN 
NOT IN IMMEDIATE USE, IN HOTEL SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES.  RECENT 
CASES OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD HAVE BEEN REPORTED.  TRAVELERS 
ARE ENCOURAGED TO EITHER PAY WITH CASH OR TO WATCH WHEN A 
MERCHANT 'SWIPES' THE CARD FOR A TRANSACTION TO ENSURE IT 
IS NOT SWIPED MORE THAN ONCE. 
 
C. ARMORED VEHICLES 
 
1) THERE ARE NO ARMORED VEHICLES IN THE USAID FLEET AND WE ARE 
NOT PLANNING TO CHANGE THIS IN FY-05 AND FY-06. 
 
D. USAID COMMUNICATIONS 
 
1) ALL U.S. STAFF HAVE BEEN ISSUED MOTOROLA HANDHELD RADIOS 
PROVIDED TO US BY THE EMBASSY/IMO. WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE 
THREE MORE IN FY-05 AND TWO IN FY-06, TO BE SURE THAT ALL 
U.S. STAFF AT THE POST PARTICIPATE IN THE EMBASSY'S E&E 
NETWORK. ALSO, WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR TECHNICAL ADVICE ON 
PURCHASING RADIOS FOR VEHICLES ON LONG DISTANCE FIELD 
TRAVEL TO INCLUDE POSSIBLE MOBILE HF RADIOS. 
 
E. SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS 
1) BASED UPON PROJECTED NEEDS AND TURNOVER OF LONG TERM US 
PSCS,  WE ANTICIPATE REQUESTING NO MORE THAN TWO SUCH 
SECURITY CHECKS PER YEAR IN FY-05 AND FY-06.  WE WILL ALSO 
REQUIRE AN EXTIMATED NINE (9) LOCAL SECURITY 
CHECKS/INVESTIGATIONS FOR FSN NEW HIRES IN FY-04 AND FY-05 
AND SIX(6) FSN RECERTIFICATION INVESTIGATIONS IN FY-05/06. 
 
F. RESIDENTIAL SECURITY 
 
1) FULL SECURITY UPGRADES FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSES IN SRI 
LANKA COSTS AN ESTIMATED $4,000 TO $5,000 PER UNIT, AND 
INCLUDES DOORS, LOCKS, WINDOW GRILLES, WINDOW FILM AND 
ALARMS. 
 
LUNSTEAD