US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1198

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001198 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025 
TAGS: PREL, CE, UNSC 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA NOT DECIDED ON G-4 FRAMEWORK RESOLUTION 
 
REF: STATE 126870 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JEFFREY J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASONS  1(B) AND (D) 
. 
 
1. (SBU) Ambassador raised issue of G-4 Framework Resolution 
on UNSC Expansion with Foreign Secretary Palihakkara on July 
8, using points in reftel.  Ambassador added that we 
recognized that Sri Lanka had given public support to the 
G-4's proposal for UNSC seats, but that this did not 
necessarily mean that Sri Lanka had to support this 
particular Resolution. 
 
2. (SBU) Palihakkara responded that Sri Lanka's support for 
the G-4 was "particularly for India and Japan."  He agreed 
that this was distinct from support for the Framework 
Resolution.  He said that Sri Lanka had decided not to 
co-sponsor the resolution, "despite many requests."  Sri 
Lanka was "keeping an open mind" and "recognized lots of 
difficulties" with the Resolution.  He added that the process 
of continually adding amendments to the Resolution made it 
more problematic, and that the outcome of the recent African 
Summit added further complications. 
 
3. (C) In an earlier separate conversation, Foreign Minister 
Kadirgamar told Ambassador that China was lobbying heavily to 
kill the Japanese bid.  In fact, China recently had sent a 
special envoy to Sri Lanka solely for this purpose. 
 
3. (SBU) COMMENT:  Seems to us Sri Lanka is a potential "no" 
vote or at least an abstention if the Resolution comes to a 
vote, particularly if we can emphasize distinction between 
support for G-4 UNSC membership--which Sri Lanka is publicly 
wedded to--and support for this Resolution.  Sri Lanka is 
also caught in a potentially painful squeeze between Japan 
and China. 
LUNSTEAD