US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1543

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001543 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, AC/ISN 
USUN (POL) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, OTRA, OVIP, KSEP, CE, UNGA 
SUBJECT: 59TH UNGA: UPDATED SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION 
 
REF: A. COLOMBO-SA/INS 09-15-04 FAX 
     B. COLOMBO 1221 
 
1.  On September 15, Mission received an update list of Sri 
Lankan government officials planning to attend the 59th UN 
General Assembly.  That updated attendance list is provided 
below: 
 
A.  ATTENDANCE OF HEAD OF STATE 
 
-- H.E. the President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga 
-- President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 
-- Arrival and Depature will be provided later 
-- Whether official will present for General Debate:  Yes 
-- Whether interpretation would be required in Bilateral 
meetings:  to be informed later.  (Note:  The President 
speaks excellent English.) 
 
-- Mr. W.J.S. Karunaratne, Secretary to the President 
 
-- Mr. H.W. Peiris, President,s Spokesman and Director 
General of the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and 
Reconciliation 
 
-- Mr. Eric Fernando, Director-General of the President,s 
Media and Policy Research Unit 
 
-- Mr. L.R.A. Perera, Assistant Secretary to the President 
 
-- Mrs. Nedra de Tissera, Personal Staff of the President 
 
C.  ATTENDANCE OF FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
-- Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, P.C.M.P. 
-- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka 
-- Spouse will travel to New York:  Yes.  Mrs. Kadirgamar 
Suganthie Wijesuriya will be accompanying 
-- Arrival and Departure will be provided later 
-- Whether official will present for General Debate:  Yes 
-- Whether interpretation would be required in Bilateral 
meetings:  to be informed later.  (Note:  The FM's English is 
excellent.) 
 
-- Dr. A.R. Perera P.C., Ambassador, Legal Advisor, Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (Alternate Representative) 
 
-- Mr. R.K.W. Gunasekera, Chancellor / University of 
Peradeniya, Member of the Advisory Committee for 
Constitutional Reforms (Advisor) 
 
-- Mrs. Manel Abeysekera, President, Consortium Sri Lanka 
Women,s Conference (Advisor) 
 
-- Mr. M.R.K. Lenagala, Assistant Director / Personal 
Assistant to Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (Advisor) 
 
-- Ms. Mahishini Colonne, Assistant Director / United Nations 
and Multilateral Affairs Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
(Advisor) 
 
-- Mr. Thushara Rodrigo, Assistant Director / United Nations 
and Multilateral Affairs Division Ministry of  Foreign 
Affairs (Advisor) 
 
E.  ATTENDANCE OF OTHER VIPS 
 
-- Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, M.P., Minister of Industry, 
Tourism and Investment Promotion 
 
-- Hon. Berty Premala Dissanayake, Chief Minister/North 
Central Province 
 
-- Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, M.P., Deputy Minister of 
Healthcare, Nutrition & Uva Wellassa Development 
 
-- Hon. Dilan Perera, M.P., Deputy Minister of Ports and 
Aviation 
 
-- Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General, Secretariat for 
Co-ordinating the Peace Process and Senior Advisor to H.E. 
the President 
 
2.  The notes closes by stating that the departure and 
arrival information will be provided later.  During a 
September 15 conversation with the Ambassador, Foreign 
Minister Kadirgamar indicated that both he and President 
Kumaratunga would arrive in New York on September 19 on 
separate flights from London. 
LUNSTEAD