US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO696

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  04/26/14 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, Political Parties, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 061 (04/26/04) 
 
 
Classified by DCM James F. Entwistle for reasons 1.5 (b) and 
(d). 
 
CONTENTS: UPFA  WINS PROVINCIAL ELECTION 
-         ATTACKS ON BUDDHIST TEMPLES 
-         TIGER STATEMENT RE NORWEGIAN FACILITATION 
-         AMBASSADOR CALLS ON CBK 
 
UPFA WINS PROVINCIAL ELECTION 
----------------------------- 
 
1.  (SBU) FYI.  As flagged in Colombo 669, Provincial 
Council elections in the "Wayamba" province of north- 
central Sri Lanka took place on April 26.  In an 
impressive showing, the United People's Freedom Alliance 
(UPFA) captured 31 seats on the Council, with 19 going 
to the United National Party (UNP) and two to the Sri 
Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).  All of the Janatha 
Vimukthi Peramuna candidates who ran under the UPFA 
banner won seats on the council.  Voter turnout was 
estimated at roughly 55 percent, which is quite low 
compared to the roughly 75 percent turnout that was 
observed in the April 2 Parliamentary election.  The 
election was largely peaceful, with only a handful of 
minor disturbances.  Elections for the other provincial 
councils are due later in the year.  The positive result 
in Wayamba may buck up the UPFA, which is still stunned 
by its loss in the race for parliamentary speaker late 
last week (see below).  (POL) 
 
ATTACKS ON BUDDHIST TEMPLES 
--------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) FYI.  Two MPs in the JHU party and their 
temples came under attack over the weekend (April 24). 
Both monks were personally threatened and property was 
damaged at one of the temples.  The two JHU monks who 
were victimized were the ones who supported the UPFA 
candidate for speaker during the parliamentary session 
on April 22.  (In that divisive session, MPs from the 
President's UPFA verbally attacked the JHU for not 
supporting its candidate for speaker.) The perpetrators 
of the temple attacks appear to have been from the UPFA. 
At this point, we would say that the JHU's relationship 
with the UPFA is going from bad to worse, which is not 
good for the UPFA's efforts to get control of 
Parliament.  (Note:  The JHU is reportedly planning to 
punish the two JHU monks who voted for the UPFA 
candidate for speaker.)  (POL) 
 
TIGER STATEMENT RE NORWEGIAN FACILITATION 
----------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) FYI.  In an article carried by pro-Tiger 
website "TamilNet" on April 25, LTTE "media coordinator" 
Daya Master stated that the Tigers would announce their 
stand on resuming peace talks when the Norwegian 
government informs the Tigers on the GSL position re 
returning to the negotiating table.  Daya Master also 
stated that any future peace talks would be based on the 
Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) proposal that 
the Tigers submitted last year.  Daya Master added, "If 
this (the ISGA) is accepted as a basis for talks, then 
the chances of the LTTE participating in the talks and 
the peace process being taken forward without 
disruptions are good."  We note that Daya Master seemed 
to be carefully noting that the ISGA could be "a basis" 
and not the only basis for talks, which is good.  (By 
the way, the UNP welcomed the re-enlistment of the 
Norwegians in peace process facilitation, while 
wondering why the UPFA had criticized the former UNP 
government on the matter so heatedly during the 
campaign. (POL) 
 
4.  (C) Also, on April 26 Mission received the text of a 
public statement by the GSL regarding Norwegian 
facilitation of the peace talks.  The statement says 
that President Kumaratunga had discussions with both 
Ambassador Brattskar in Colombo and Norwegian Prime 
Minister Kjell Bondevik via telephone on the issue of 
facilitation.  The text of the statement is being sent 
to the desk and Embassy Oslo via email.  (POL) 
 
Ambassador Calls on CBK 
----------------------- 
 
5. (SBU)  Jeff is calling on the President as we go to 
press.  We'll report the conversation Tuesday.  (DCM) 
 
LUNSTEAD