US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO1557

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001557 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/N-SANA ABED-KOTOB/LARRY MOODY 
INFO: SA/PPD-SHARON E. HUDSON-DEAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, OEXC - Exchanges 
SUBJECT: FY-2005 SRP "RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN THE U.S." 
FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 11, 2005 
PROJECT NUMBER: E/VGN-2005-0015 
 
REF: SANA ABED-KOTOB/ANGELA GEMZA MESSAGE OF 9/15 
 
1. POST NOMINATES REV. KIRINDE ASSAJI, BUDDHIST 
MONK/PRINCIPAL, SRI SUMANGALA DHAMMA SCHOOL, FOR 
PARTICIPATION IN SUBJECT PROJECT. 
 
2. POST CONFIRMS THAT THIS NOMINATION HAS "FULL COUNTRY 
TEAM APPROVAL." 
 
3. NOMINATION IS AS FOLLOWS: 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: tilakawardenac@state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS  Colombo 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 2929 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGN 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 86 
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGN-2004-0018 
PROJ-NAME: Religious Diversity in the U.S. - February 
21-March 11, 2005 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Regional 
PROG-TYPE: IV Group Projects 
FY: 2005 
DEPART-POST: 02/19/2005 
SESSION-DATE: 02/21/2005 
RETURN-POST: 03/12/2005 
NO-OF-PART: 1 
RANK-ORDER: 1 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on 
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding" 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 31 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2929 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Religion 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Dr. 
F-NAME: Kirinde 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: ASSAJI 
SUFFIX: Thero 
POSITION-CODE: 350 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: Gangarama Temple 
M-ADDR2: 61 Sri Jinarathana Road 
M-ADDR3: Hunupitiya 
M-CITY: Colombo 2 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: (94-11) 243-5169 
M-FAX: (94-11) 243-9508 
M-EMAIL: asaji@log.lk 
M-CNTRY-ID: CE 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 03/20/1968 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Matara 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Buddhist Monk/Principal, Sri Sumangala Dhamma School 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Director, Information and Technology Section of Sri 
Jinarathana Vocational Training Centre 
Religious Advisor, Sri Jinarathana Bhikku Abhyasa 
Vidyalaya Karaka Sabawa 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
May, 2002 - private visit 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Final Examination of Oriental Studies Society 
(equivalent to the B.A.(Hon.) degree), 1990 
M.A., University of Delhi, India, 1995 
Ph.D., University of Delhi, India, 1998 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: Sinhala 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Japanese 
OTHER-LANG-ID: JA 
READ: 3 
SPEAK: 3 
COMP: 3 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on 
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding" 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Angela Gemza 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Rev. Assaji is a bit unusual among the Buddhist clergy 
because of his regular contact with individuals who are 
not Sinhala Buddhists.  His temple is conducting IT 
training for all sections of the community.  Part of 
the difficulty of the peace process is a lack of 
understanding  and communication between the different 
ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.  Through constant contacts 
with all sections of society, Rev. Assaji is doing his 
part in bridging differences and establishing mutual 
understanding between the Sinhala, the Tamil and the 
Muslim communities.  Post can further promote these 
activities which promote social stability by exposing 
Rev. Assaji to the concepts behind multiculturalism and 
religious diversity in the U.S. 
Rev. Assaji, who belongs to the Malwatte chapter of the 
Buddhist establishment, is also an important contact 
for the Mission.  He is a resident of the Gangarama 
Temple, which is closely affiliated to a number of 
senior politicians of the opposition United National 
Party. 
Post believes that Rev. Assaji will be an ideal 
candidate for participation in SA/RP on "Religious 
Diversity in the U.S."  since his exposure to the U.S. 
and to this project will bring a multiplier effect. 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: Public Affairs 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID: 121 
PERSON-ID: 125 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CE 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CE 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CE 
FIRST-LANG-ID: SI 
E-I-TYPE-ID: 
NOM-POST-ID: 2929 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.9999 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
4. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOMINATION. 
LUNSTEAD