US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO280

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000280 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS J.BRENNIG; EB/OMA; TREASURY FOR C.CARNES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EFIN, CE, ECONOMICS, Maldives, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: SRIL LANKA AND MALDIVES THOUGHTS ON TSUNAMI DONORS 
CONFERENCE AND FORMATION OF INFORMAL COORDINATION GROUP 
 
REF: SECSTATE 18955 
 
1. Ambassador delivered points in reftel during a February 2 
discussion with Presidential Advisor and Head of Sri Lanka's 
Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) Mano 
Tittawella.  Tittawella thought a local donor's conference in 
Sri Lanka presented the best opportunity for donors to 
discuss specific plans and assistance.  He also voiced 
concern that smaller countries could be marginalized at an 
"inclusive" conference somewhere else.  He agreed that a 
Tsunami Reconstruction Coordination Group was a good idea. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
2. During a February 2 visit to Male to survey tsunami relief 
and reconstruction efforts, DCM delivered reftel points to 
Assistant Director of External Resources Aminath Didi and 
Finance Ministry Executive Secretary Riluwan Sharif.  GORM 
position is that a Maldives only conference would not/not be 
well attended and that Maldives should try to ride the 
coattails of a bigger conference, perhaps a joint Sri 
Lanka/Maldives effort held in Sri Lanka. 
LUNSTEAD