US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1121

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DS FOR DS/IP/SA AND DS/IP/ITA; CA/EX; SA, SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, CASC, CE, MIssion Security 
SUBJECT: COLOMBO EAC CONVENED ON 07/07/04 TO DISCUSS 
SUICIDE BOMBER 
 
1. (SBU) A Colombo core EAC meeting was convened on 07/07/04 
at 1400 after a suicide bomber detonated at 1215 at the 
Colpetty Police Station (located north of the Embassy on 
Galle Road.)  The EAC reviewed post's security posture in 
light of the bombing and determined that a warden message 
would be disseminated at once and a draft Public Announcement 
would be sent to Washington for clearance and dissemination. 
Travel to Batticaloa on the east coast would be added to the 
areas for which COM permission must be requested. Details 
follow.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) The A/RSO opened the meeting and outlined what is 
known about the bombing:  the intended target was believed to 
be a Tamil politician who had an office near the police 
station; the metal detector at the office went off when the 
bomber attempted to gain admission to that office; the police 
removed the bomber and took her to the Colpetty Police 
Station, located adjacent to the office; and that the bomber 
denotated once inside the police station.  Five persons are 
dead, including the bomber, and up to eleven are injured. 
The bombing is presumed to be related to ongoing intra-Tamil 
violence in the Batticaloa area in eastern Sri Lanka. 
 
3.  (SBU) The EAC determined that the lockdown status imposed 
immediately after the bombing could be lifted.  The north 
gate to the Embassy is to remain closed for vehicular traffic 
for the remainder of the working day and all vehicular 
traffic is to use the south gate. 
 
4.  (SBU) A Warden Message will be issued that includes a 
statement about the suicide bombing today and advising all 
American citizens to avoid travel to Batticaloa. 
 
5.  (SBU) Septels will be sent covering the bombing in 
greater detail. 
LUNSTEAD