US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO8

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000008 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS 
STATE PLEASE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, 
GARVELINK 
BANGKOK OF USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN 
DELHI FOR FAS 
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2015 
TAGS: AEMR, CASC, PREL, EAID, CE, MV, Tsunami, Maldives 
SUBJECT: TFXO01:  MALDIVES AND SRI LANKA, SITREP NO. 6, 
JANUARY 2 
 
REF: COLOMBO 0001 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 Americans confirmed 
killed stands at 7; 67 reports of missing Americans received 
by the Consular Section remain unresolved; 267 
welfare/whereabouts cases have been resolved. 
 
2.  (U) Casualty Figures:  According to the Ministry of 
Social Services, the number of people killed in the December 
26 tsunami has reached 29,729; 5,240 remain missing. 
 
3.  (C)  U.S. Actions/Assistance:  On January 2 the 
Ambassador hosted a meeting of COMs from members of the core 
group.  Brigadier General Panter, the head of the Sri Lanka 
JTF, is expected in Sri Lanka late January 2.  About 200 U.S. 
Marines are expected in Sri Lanka as part of the disaster 
relief effort by January 3.  A total of seven AH-60 
helicopters are expected in Sri Lanka by January 3.  The 
DATT, accompanied by a member of the Disaster Relief 
Assessment Team (DRAT), met with Defense Secretary Ashoka 
Jayawardene and the three Sri Lankan service chiefs on 
January 2 to brief on overall U.S. assistance and on 
capabilities possible under assistance provided by the U.S. 
military.  DATT emphasized to Jayawardene that the Ambassador 
wants U.S. assistance in Sri Lanka to be part of a balanced 
geographic response to the disaster.  Jayawardene will brief 
President Kumaratunga the evening of January 2 and expects to 
receive her approval.  AID Mission Director, USAID/OFDA DART 
leader and poloff met with S. Puleedevan, head of the 
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Peace Secretariat, at 
the Norwegian Ambassador's residence on January 2 to brief on 
USG assistance to Sri Lanka, including the north and east 
(septel).  Six members of the Los Angeles Fire Department 
disaster response team, who are under contract to USAID/OFDA, 
arrived in Sri Lanka January 2 to be part of the DART team. 
 
 
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MALDIVES 
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4.  (SBU) A combined team (Embassy, DART, DATT, DRAT) arrived 
in Maldives on January 2 to meet with government officials 
and conduct initial assessments.  The first planeload of 
USAID/OFDA supplies (carrying plastic sheeting for temporary 
shelter, water bladder, jerry cans) is expected in Maldives 
January 3, while the first planeload of DOD-supplied 
humanitarian rations is expected on January 3 as well. 
LUNSTEAD