US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1063

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES, INR/MR, PA 
SA/INS (CAMP, DEAN) SA/PD (SCENSNY, ROGERS, STRYKER); 
SSA/PAS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KPAO, PTER, EAID, OIIP, PREL, CE, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  Special Media Reaction:  Statement of the co- 
chairs of the Sri Lanka Donor Group 
 
 
1. (U) Summary:  Sri Lankan media provided prominent, 
widespread and positive coverage to the statement issued 
June 13 by the Tokyo donors' conference co-chairs following 
their Washington meeting.  Electronic media reported the 
statement on Tuesday, June 14, while all print media carried 
front-page reports on Wednesday morning, June 15. 
Government owned and mainstream independent media emphasized 
the co-chairs' hope for the quick establishment of a joint 
mechanism for tsunami relief and reconstruction, while 
Sinhala nationalist papers emphasized the donors' call for 
the LTTE to end assassinations and recruitment of child 
soldiers. All print media published the statement in full. 
End summary. 
 
2. (U) All English and vernacular print press ran front-page 
banner headlines of the co-chairs statement on Wednesday, 
June 15.  Government owned Daily News headlined, "Donors 
support President, LTTE effort to implement P-TOMS (Post- 
Tsunami Organizational Management Structure)" with a smaller 
 
SIPDIS 
subtitle, "LTTE told to stop assassinations."  Mainstream 
independent Daily Mirror bannered, "Sign P-TOMS deal now: co- 
chairs."  Pro-JVP (junior alliance partner Janatha Vimukthi 
Urumaya) Island bannered, "Tiger atrocities worry donors." 
 
3.   (U) In a page three story, the pro-JVP Island published 
a story titled, "Why don't donors try to liberate people 
behind the iron curtain - Sangaree," in which anti-LTTE TULF 
(Tamil United Liberation Front) leader V. Anandasangaree 
condemned the Co-chair's support of the Joint Mechanism 
proposal, alleging Tamils in LTTE-controlled areas are 
enslaved by the Tigers.  The article quoted Public Affairs 
Officer saying that despite the co-chairs' encouragement of 
the Joint Mechanism agreement, the U.S. had not changed its 
designation of the LTTE as a terrorist organization. 
 
4.  (U) The Tamil and Sinhala language press also afforded 
the statement broad coverage, often mirroring the stories of 
their English-language counterparts.  Government owned 
papers reported the statement with the most prominence. 
Government owned Sinhala Dinamina led with, "Sri Lanka's 
Donor co-chairs pledge total support to the Tsunami Relief 
Council; stress need for Muslim representation too," while 
government owned Tamil daily Thinakaran bannered, "co-chairs 
of the donors fully support the JM - urge government to 
include Muslim representation and sign immediately." 
Independent Tamil papers also emphasized the timely signing 
of the accord; independent Tamil daily Thinakkural led with, 
"Sign the JM immediately - co-chairs," and independent Tamil 
daily Virakesari ran, "President should review her decision 
at least at the last moment - JVP: JM should be established 
immediately - Donors urge the government." 
 
 
5.  (U) Television and radio broadcasts on the co-chairs 
meeting reported it in a relatively straightforward manner 
from the press release.  Television news programs emphasized 
the co-chairs' "demand" for the immediate establishment of 
the Joint Mechanism. 
 
 
6.  (SBU) Comment: Government owned media, which generally 
act as the President's mouthpiece, used the co-chair's 
statement to rally support in their on-going public 
relations campaign for the Joint Mechanism.  Predictably, 
the Sinhala nationalist press emphasized the criticism of 
the LTTE.  We expect more commentary to emerge on the 
statement over the next several days and will report 
accordingly. End Comment. 
 
 
Entwistle