US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO976

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000976 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EB A/S ANTHONY WAYNE; SA/INS FOR J. BRENNIG, N. 
DEAN; PLEASE PASS TO TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION TASK FORCE; 
TREASURY FOR C. CARNES 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, PGOV, CE, MV, Tsunami 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN POST-TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE 
(JUNE 01, 2005) 
 
REF: A) Colombo 968  B) Colombo 971  C) Colombo 956 
 
1.  (U) This cable is for the Tsunami IAWG on June 1, 2005. 
 
2.  (U) The May 27-28 visit by former President Clinton 
went well and is summarized in Ref A.  Media reaction is 
provided in Ref B. 
 
Update on USG Activity 
---------------------- 
3.  (U) On the ground progress continues, with the 
Government continuing to claim that it is on track for 
30,000 temporary shelter units by June 30.  Ref C provides 
the most recent USAID DART update of out-station travel. 
Post is also sending one Maldivian and one Sri Lankan on a 
disaster management-related International Visitor program 
beginning next week. 
 
4.  (U) We are poised to finalize the SOAG with the GSL 
once final funding levels are determined in Washington. 
Regarding previous concerns about a possible overlap in 
projects with Germany, we have told the GSL that we plan to 
proceed with projects as they agreed in our signed MOU. 
 
Debt Relief 
----------- 
5. (U) We are reporting septel today receipt of a letter 
from the Ministry of Finance accepting our debt relief 
offer. According to the letter, however, they still have 
not concluded the Paris Club MOU.  As we understand it, 
conclusion of a bilateral agreement has to wait for 
completion of the Paris Club MOU.  We will encourage the 
GSL to proceed quickly. 
 
Early Warning and 100m/200m Buffer Zone: DVC Follow-up 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
6.  (SBU) As we have mentioned in previous updates, we are 
concerned about the coordination of all the various early 
warning and emergency management programs and projects that 
are underway.  USAID's lead role in the development of an 
early warning system, supported by USTDA funding for 
emergency management and all-hazards studies, along with 
expertise from FEMA and other relevant agencies would 
provide much needed assistance and guidance for the 
Government of Sri Lanka as it moves forward with the 
development of its own Emergency Management Framework and as 
it considers how best to deal with the 100m/200m buffer zone. 
 
7.  (SBU) As a follow-up to the May 19 DVC on the 100m/200m 
coastal buffer zone, Post believes that follow-on travel by 
two or three key participants from that exercise would be 
very useful.  We also understand that USTDA is planning a 
visit to Colombo following the USTDA sponsored All-Hazards 
Conference in Hawaii.  That visit would give an opportunity 
for USTDA to discuss the potential for a definitional 
mission that could provide guidance to the GSL on the 
establishment of an emergency management structure and the 
development of an integrated early warning mechanism. Such 
a definitional mission could be built on a base established 
by the contacts and information gleaned during the other 
visits mentioned above. 
 
Maldives Trust Fund 
------------------- 
8.  (SBU) We are planning to send a team to Maldives in the 
next couple weeks to discuss in detail those projects that 
are best suited to our donation.  In light of the decision 
to use the Maldives Trust fund, we need specific 
instructions from Washington regarding reporting 
requirements and agreement mechanisms.  As we have 
mentioned before, the GORM will work with us to ensure that 
all monies are targeted to specific projects and they have 
offered to accommodate our needs for reporting and 
oversight. 
 
9.  (SBU) Post would appreciate detailed guidance on what 
kind of agreement is needed to make the money available to 
the trust fund, whether an MOU is required, and what kind 
of oversight and monitoring mechanisms are needed.  We 
would urge agencies to review our previous emails in 
conjunction with the GORM Funds' operations manual in order 
to understand those mechanisms already in use. 
 
LUNSTEAD