US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO2073

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS, SES-O, AND CA/OCS 
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, 
GARVELINK 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
NEW DELHI FOR FAS 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN 
GENEVA FOR USAID - NANCY KYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014 
TAGS: CASC, AEMR, EAID, PGOV, PREL, CE, MV, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: TFX001: SITREP NO. 3 ON SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES, 
DECEMBER 30 
 
REF: COLOMBO 2070 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: AMB. JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD.  REASON:  1.4 (B,D). 
 
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SRI LANKA 
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1.  (U)  American Citizens:  The number of American citizens 
confirmed killed in the December 26 tsunami stands at 7; 116 
remain unaccounted for; 180 welfare/whereabouts cases have 
been resolved.  All American and LES employees of the 
Embassy, USAID and IBB have been accounted for.  According to 
the Ministry of Tourism, 100 foreigners have been reported 
killed in the disaster so far. 
 
2.  (U)  Casualty Figures:  According to most recent 
estimates from the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL), the 
casualty toll has reached 24,743.  The eastern coastal 
district of Ampara has registered the highest number of 
deaths (as many as 13,000).  Casualty figures from areas 
controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are 
difficult to confirm.  According to local press reports, 25 
coastal villages in the LTTE-controlled district of 
Mullaitivu were completely obliterated. 
 
3.  (U) Government Efforts:  The GSL is publicizing efforts 
to provide relief in the north and east, following criticism 
in the Tamil press and on the LTTE website for focusing 
assistance on the Sinhalese south. Following President 
Kumaratunga's December 29 appeal for national unity (Reftel), 
LTTE leader Prabhakaran issued a public statement conveying 
his sympathy to Muslim and Sinhalese "brethren" affected by 
the disaster.  The Tiger chief's reference to the Sinhalese 
majority as "brethren" is unprecedented in the 21-year ethnic 
conflict.  President Kumaratunga is meeting with ambassadors 
of selected missions, including the U.S. Ambassador, at 6:30 
p.m. local time on December 30. 
 
4.  (U)  U.S. Efforts:  One OFDA assessment team returned 
from Trincomalee District on December 30.  Two teams remain 
in the field and are expected to return December 31.  The 
first planeload of emergency supplies provided by OFDA funds 
is expected in Colombo December 31. 
 
5.  (C)  PACOM:  30 members of the PACOM Disaster Relief 
Assessment Team (DRAT) have arrived in Sri Lanka.  Members of 
the group and DATT had a productive meeting with Secretary to 
the President W.J.S. Karunaratne and secretaries of 12 
ministries on December 30.  Members of the DRAT, two members 
of the USAID/OFDA assessment team and DATT will helicopter 
over disaster-affected areas (on a coastal route from 
Kalutara to Ampara) to assess damage on December 31.  The 
initial military airlift of relief supplies is expected to 
land in Colombo the evening of December 30.  The 
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is expected to arrive in Sri 
Lanka on January 7, while the Marine Expeditionary Unit is 
expected to arrive January 4. 
 
6.  (SBU) Wave rumors:  At mid-day on December 30 Foreign 
Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara contacted the Ambassador about 
 
SIPDIS 
reports received from the Indian government of another tidal 
wave expected to hit southern India.   Palihakkara said that 
the Indian Foreign Secretary had told him that the 
information came from a U.S. company, Terra Research, which 
he believed was based in Portland, Oregon.  The Foreign 
Secretary asked for U.S. help in verifying the reports of an 
 
SIPDIS 
impending tsunami.  The Ambassador contacted the Tsunami 
Warning Center in Honolulu, which dispelled the rumor. 
 
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MALDIVES 
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7.  (U)  American Citizens:  As of COB on December 30, no 
American citizens had been reported killed.  Two Americans 
were unaccounted for in Maldives. 
8.  (U)  Government Efforts:  The Government of the Republic 
of Maldives (GORM) reports contact with all 19 atolls, 
although some of the islands within these atolls remain out 
of contact.  According to information received from UNDP, the 
Government has reported that all islands (presumably with the 
exception of those that remain out of contact) have been 
provided with a three-day supply of food (rice, flour and 
sugar) from emergency reserves.  Electricity remains out on 
14 of the inhabited islands. 
 
9.  (U) Foreign Assistance:  The UNDAC/OCHA team arrived in 
Maldives late December 28.  To date, the GORM reports 
receiving pledges of USD 500,000 from bilateral donors and 
USD 450,000 from the UN.  In addition, according to the UNDP 
ResRep, the World Food Program will provide USD 500,000 in 
emergency food and other supplies. 
 
10.  (U)  U.S. Assistance:  The first delivery of U.S. relief 
supplies (plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, water 
bladders and jerry cans) is expected to arrive on December 
31.  A member of the USAID/OFDA assessment team, accompanied 
by an emboff, is expected to arrive in Maldives on January 2 
to coordinate the distribution of relief materials. 
 
 
 
 
LUNSTEAD