US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO795

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000795 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, INR/NESA 
 
NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
E.O. 12958:     DECL: 05-17-14 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process, External Relations 
SUBJECT:  Bio-data on Jayantha Dhanapala, new chief of 
the Sri Lankan government's Peace Secretariat 
 
Refs:   (A) Oslo 895 (Notal) 
-       (B) Colombo 772, and previous 
 
(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of 
Mission.  Reasons 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (SBU) On May 14, President Kumaratunga's office 
issued a press release naming Jayantha Dhanapala as the 
new Secretary General of the Sri Lankan government's 
Peace Secretariat (see bio-data below).  (The Peace 
Secretariat, technically known as the "Secretariat for 
 
SIPDIS 
Coordinating the Peace Process," was formed in 2002, and 
helps develop and implement GSL policy in regard to the 
peace process with the Tamil Tigers.  Dhanapala will 
replace Bernard Goonetilleke, who was forced out from 
his Peace Secretariat and foreign secretary postings 
after the April 2004 parliamentary election.) 
Dhanapala's appointment is effective June 1.  Dhanapala 
is a former ambassador to the U.S. (1995-97) and a 
former UN Under-Secretary General for Disarmament 
Affairs (1998-2003).  (Japanese peace envoy to Sri Lanka 
Yasushi Akashi told DCM May 17 that he knows Dhanapala 
well from their work together on disarmament issues at 
the UN, and thinks very highly of him.)  Per Reftels, 
along with Dhanapala, Mission understands that 
Presidential Adviser Mano Tittawella and Foreign 
Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara will also be involved in 
 
SIPDIS 
policy formulation on peace process issues. 
(Palihakkara was formerly deputy chief of the Peace 
Secretariat and ambassador to Thailand.)  Foreign 
 
SIPDIS 
Minister Kadirgamar almost certainly will also be 
involved in peace-related issues, too. 
 
2.  (C) Bio-data on Dhanapala follows: 
 
Begin Bio-data: 
 
JAYANTHA CUDA BANDARA DHANAPALA, 65, served as UN 
Undersecretary-General for Disarmament Affairs from 1998 
to 2003.  In addition to his duties in that office, 
Dhanapala served concurrently as a Commissioner in 
UNSCOM.  Dhanapala served as ambassador and permanent 
representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva from 
1984 to 1987, and also served as ambassador to the U.S. 
from 1995 to 1997.  He retired from Sri Lanka's foreign 
service in 1997 following the conclusion of his 
Washington assignment.  Other highlights of Dhanapala's 
career include serving as director of the UN Institute 
for Disarmament Research in Geneva from 1987 to 1992 and 
as director of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Division 
of the Sri Lankan MFA during Sri Lanka's chairmanship of 
the NAM in the late 1970s. 
 
One of the most well-known Sri Lankans on the 
international stage, Dhanapala is an engaging 
interlocutor who has a wide depth and breadth of 
knowledge on many topics.  He is believed to be close to 
President Kumaratunga, although he has not publicly 
involved himself in Sri Lankan politics.  There are 
reports that he came into conflict with Foreign Minister 
Kadirgamar while he (Dhanapala) was ambassador to the 
U.S.  It is not clear what the state of his relationship 
is with Kadirgamar at this time.  If the two do not get 
along, it could spell problems for policy formulation on 
peace issues.  Dhanapala has not made many public 
comments regarding his views on the peace process, but 
he has publicly spoken out in favor of a negotiated 
settlement of the ethnic conflict.  He is believed, 
however, to be wary of putting too much trust in the 
Tamil Tigers.  Dhanapala is considered an effective 
manager and coordinator.  This is good for the Peace 
Secretariat which is a busy office and often needs to 
 
SIPDIS 
complete complex items on a time-sensitive basis.  He is 
friendly to the U.S. but has been critical regarding the 
war in Iraq and what he sees as U.S. overreaching in 
terms of civil liberties in the war against terrorism. 
 
Dhanapala has published several books and numerous 
articles, and has been a lecturer on various topics.  He 
was educated at the University of Perideniya in Sri 
Lanka and the University of London's School of Oriental 
and African Studies.  He also has a masters from 
American University in Washington in international 
affairs.  Originally from Kandy in central Sri Lanka, 
Dhanapala is married and has two children.  His father 
was a well-regarded civil servant and his mother a 
schoolteacher.  Dhanapala speaks excellent English and 
likes soccer.  He is Sinhalese Buddhist. 
 
End Bio-data. 
 
3.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
LUNSTEAD