US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO322

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000322 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EB A/S WAYNE; SA/INS J. BRENNIG; TREASURY 
FOR C. CARNES; COMMERCE FOR A. BENAISSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CE, EAID, ECON, EFIN, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: DONOR'S DISCUSS RELIEF COORDINATION CONCERNS, 
MDB'S OUTLINE PHASE 2 OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS 
 
1.  (U) This message is Sensitive But Unclassified - Please 
handle accordingly. 
 
2.  (SBU) Summary:  Donors in Sri Lanka are concerned about a 
lack of coordination on remaining emergency relief efforts. 
UNDP is providing assistance to the Ministry of Public 
Security, which has been charged with carrying out relief 
efforts as the Center for National Operations closes its 
doors.  Sri Lanka's Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation 
continues to refine its assessment and is falling more in 
line with MDB assessment of USD 1.5 billion in damage.  It 
appears LTTE assessments may be in line with these figures as 
well.  ADB has outlined a plan for conducting "Phase 2" of 
the joint needs assessment and hopes to complete work on this 
phase by April 10.  Coordination mechanisms continue to be a 
challenge and countries interested in contributing to a 
central "trust fund" are planning to meet next week to 
discuss possibilities.  While the weekly donor meetings are 
useful for airing concerns, they highlight the GSL's 
continued struggle to provide appropriate coordination 
mechanisms.  End Summary. 
 
3.  (SBU) During the weekly reconstruction meeting hosted by 
World Bank, ADB and JBIC, donors raised concerns about the 
adverse effects that the lack of coordination on 
still-necessary emergency relief efforts is having in 
delivery of services to tsunami victims, now that the Center 
for National Operations (CNO) has closed its operation.  WB 
and ADB promised to raise the issue with the Humanitarian 
Coordinator from the UN and the Secretary for Public 
Security, Law and Order, Tilak Ranaviraja, who has been put 
in charge of the follow-on emergency assistance coordinating 
mechanism. 
 
4.  (SBU) Ambassador separately discussed with UNDP ResRep 
Miguel Bermeo issue of follow-on emergency assistance 
coordination.  Bermeo had met with Ranaviraja the previous 
day and offered UN assistance in setting up what would 
essentially be a down-sized CNO.  Ranaviraja seemed receptive 
to the idea, but was still uncertain about how he was going 
to organize this operation.  In the meantime, large amounts 
of data collected by the CNO are sitting on computer discs 
waiting for a new home.  Bermeo thought     Ranaviraja had 
good intentions, but he and Ambassador agreed that he may not 
have the time needed for the task, as he already has two 
other full-time jobs. 
 
5.  (SBU) As the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation 
(TAFREN) continues to refine its damage assessment, it 
appears its figures are beginning to fall more in line with 
the USD 1.5 billion figure cited by the joint needs 
assessment team.  During a meeting with LTTE representatives 
in Killinocchi, WB/ADB/JBIC representatives recieved a copy 
of the LTTE's draft needs assessment.  It appeared to be 
based largely on GSL figures and seems in synch with the 
other assessments that are underway. 
 
6.  (SBU) As the joint needs assessment moves into Phase 2, 
ADB has been developing an approach that would incorporate 
several teams of 8-9 members, led by "contextual specialists" 
(experts in human rights, HIV/AIDS, etc.) and would work at 
the district level.  There would also be other technical 
specialists, representatives of the donor community and 
representatives from the GSL and LTTE (TAFREN and local 
government representative would be involved and the Joint 
Assessment Team noted that the LTTE has "agreed in principle" 
to this approach.  The team would conduct more detailed 
assessments through March, and the data would be compiled and 
reviewed by the larger group, to ensure that all issues are 
appropriately addressed.  The ADB felt it should aim for 
completing phase 2 of the assessment by April 10, prior to 
the Sinhala New Year and in time to make preparations for 
presentations at a potential donor conference. 
 
7.  (SBU) On matters of cordination, WB and ADB are 
spearheading the development of a coordination website, where 
each donor would be able to input their priorities and 
funding commitments.  TAFREN continues to work on developing 
a coordination mechanism whereby it will collect information 
on needs from the district and local levels and match with 
resources available from donors, NGOs and the private sector. 
 
8.  (SBU) Regarding the topic of a general "trust fund" for 
reconstruction funds, as several countries (most notably in 
the US and Japan) have expressed reservations, the group 
decided that interested countries will meet separately early 
next week to discuss a framework. 
 
9.  (SBU) Comment:  At the conclusion of the meeting, donors 
agreed to meet every other week, rather than weekly.  This is 
a useful forum for airing concerns, but also raises the 
stakes for the GSL's participation (the GSL is represented by 
TAFREN), which was uninspiring.  While there is clearly good 
intent and there are good ideas, it remains unclear how 
effective TAFREN will be in its coordination role.  End 
Comment. 
 
LUNSTEAD