US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO31

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS AND CA/OCS 
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/DCHA/OFDA - THAYER, FLEMING, GARVELINK 
GENEVA FOR NANCY KYLOW 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA - TOM DOLAN 
NEW DELHI FOR FAS 
USPACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, CASC, PGOV, CE, MV, Tsunami, Maldives 
SUBJECT: TFXO01:  SRI LANKA AND MALDIVES, SITREP. NO. 8, 
JANUARY 4 
 
REF: COLOMBO 0016 AND PREVIOUS 
 
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SRI LANKA 
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1.  (U) Casualties:  According to Government statistics, 
30,229 people died in the tsunami; 3,858 remain missing; 
835,028 have been displaced.  A total of 7 Americans have 
been confirmed killed in the disaster. 
 
2.  (SBU)  U.S. Actions/Assistance:  The Ambassador, 
accompanied by Brigadier General Panter, head of the Combined 
Support Group Sri Lanka (CSGSL), USAID/OFDA DART leader Bill 
Berger and DATT, met on January 4 with the Secretaries of 
Defense, Finance and Foreign Affairs to discuss disaster 
assistance operations.  They agreed on a notional list of 
operations U.S. military might undertake, mainly medium 
engineering reconstruction efforts.  Sri Lankans requested 
heavy lift capabilities and heavy engineering assistance 
also.  They were told that at present heavy lift capabilities 
would be deployed to Indonesia, not Sri Lanka.  Sri Lankans 
also clarified the support they were ready to provide in 
terms of space for U.S. troops and equipment.  The meeting 
was very useful as it allowed us to clarify for the 
Government what our capabilities are, and for us to 
understand what the Government is looking for.  The need for 
heavy lift capability is very real, and no other nation, 
including the Indians, is able to provide it.  Provision of 
some heavy lift assets would have major impact here. 
 
3.  (SBU)  U.S. Actions/Assistance:  On January 4 the 
Ambassador, accompanied by Brigadier General Panter, DART 
leader Berger and DATT, also met with Education Secretary 
Tara De Mel, who has been named by President Kumaratunga to 
head the Center for National Operations managing the national 
relief effort, to brief her on the capabilities and 
assistance possible through the combined USG response to the 
disaster.  The Ambassador stressed that the U.S. effort is 
being closely coordinated with the Government, as well as 
with other bilateral and multilateral donors.  De Mel noted 
that coordination with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam 
(LTTE) is improving, although some "distance" remains. 
According to De Mel, information on casualties and displaced 
persons from LTTE-controlled territory is still "sketchy." 
She reported that the ICRC, rather than the Government, is 
taking relief supplies into LTTE areas. 
 
 
4.  (SBU) U.S. Actions/Assistance (cont.):  Two C-5s carrying 
trucks, generators, engineering equipment and life-support 
equipment are expected to land later January 4. 
 
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MALDIVES 
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5.  (SBU) The combined Embassy/DAO/DART/CSGSL team returned 
from Maldives on January 4.  Specific immediate needs include 
water availability and distribution, followed by temporary 
shelter, clearance of debris, and rehabilitation of 
generators and fishing vessels.  An overriding need for all 
relief efforts is logistical support to distribute resources 
and expertise to the affected islands.  Sitrep on Maldives 
will follow septel. 
 
LUNSTEAD