US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1018

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001018 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, MV, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 085 (06/17/04) 
 
Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 
1.5 b and d. 
 
Contents: VISIT BY PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTRY SECRETARY 
          SITUATION IN THE EAST 
          STATUS OF VISIT BY G/TIP SALLY NEUMANN 
          HOUSEKEEPING 
          BPP 
 
VISIT BY PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTRY SECRETARY 
------------------------------------------- 
 
1.  (SBU)  We have received a request from Tilak Ranaviraja, 
the Secretary in the Ministry of Public Security, Law and 
Order for assistance in arranging some USG appointments 
while he is traveling in the U.S. July 5-10.  We have told 
his staff that their Embassy in DC should make the 
appointments, so you may be hearing from Devinda et al on 
this.  He's interested in Homeland Security, Coast Guard, 
etc. He is a smart fellow and helpful to us - our main 
contact on TIP/PISCES, for instance. (DCM) 
 
SITUATION IN THE EAST 
--------------------- 
 
2.  (C)  Jim returned yesterday from a trip to Ampara and 
Batticaloa in the east.  One overwhelming observation from 
his travels is that the Karuna affair is far from over. 
Military, police and SLMM officials in the East described 
how small Karuna groups continue to move at will in the 
East.  In a number of towns, for example, pro-Prabakharan 
officials have been ostensibly put in place but are not to 
be found in the local LTTE office for fear of being bumped 
off by Karuna pistol gangs.  Larger activity is also still 
taking place: during the trip, some sort of attack or 
incident between the LTTE factions took place west of 
Valaichchenai (north of Batti) but military interlocutors 
were not yet able to tell Jim exactly what it was.  Most 
interlocutors said Tamil opinion on the street in the East 
is still heavily pro-Karuna. Everybody professed to have no 
idea where Mr. K is.  The trip was also an opportunity to 
open a number of very impressive AID/OTI projects in 
Batticaloa town but also in smaller locations near Ampara 
like Olluvil, Akarrapaittu and Samanthurai, places where, in 
some instances, Tamil/Muslim tensions were clear.  (DCM) 
 
STATUS OF VISIT BY G/TIP SALLY NEUMANN 
-------------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Our G/TIP program officer, Sally Neumann, is 
tentatively scheduled to visit from June 27 to July 6, 
according the itinerary she sent via email on June 4.  Since 
that time, Ms. Neumann has not responded to several emails 
requesting confirmation of her trip.  Mission also has not 
received a country clearance request cable.  With June 27 
rapidly approaching, would the desk please check with Ms. 
Neumann if she still intends to visit and the status of her 
country clearance request?  Thanks.  (POL) 
 
HOUSEKEEPING 
------------ 
 
4. (U) Wondering how long you are still going to be at G 
Street. 
 
BPP 
--- 
 
5. (U) Has it been presented? Reaction? 
___ 
 
LUNSTEAD