US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1899

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001899 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/G/N-ASHIFFLETT; ECA/PE/V/P; SA/PD 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, OEXC - Exchanges 
SUBJECT:  FY-2003 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM: 
POST'S NOMINEES FOR SRI LANKA 
 
REF:  (A) STATE 50054, (B) STATE 32608 
 
1.  POST SUBMITS FOLLOWING SLATE OF IV NOMINEES FOR 
FY-2003, IN RANK ORDER.  SEPARATE NOMINATING CABLES 
IN EVDB FORMAT WILL BE FORWARDED TO INDIVIDUAL 
PROJECT OFFICERS. 
 
2.  (I) MR. MUDDIYAPPU REMADIOUS, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW, 
CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT 
SA/RP "FEDERALISM," JANUARY 13-31, 2003 
 
(II) DR. DAYALAN AMBALAVANAR, SENIOR LECTURER IN 
SURGERY, UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA 
SA/RP "FEDERALISM," JANUARY 13-31, 2003 
 
(III) MR. NOORUL AMEEN IZZADEEN, DEPUTY EDITOR, "THE 
SUNDAY TIMES," - ENGLISH LANGUAGE WEEKLY 
SA/RP "ISLAM IN AMERICA," AUGUST 25-SEPTEMBER 12, 
2003 
 
(IV) MS. ALIKIE ISMAIL, SENIOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY- 
GENERAL, AND FINANCIAL CONTROLLER, CEYLON CHAMBER OF 
COMMERCE 
MRP "U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM," MAY 1-22, 2003 
 
(V) MS. ASHA DHANASIRI, SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER, 
ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION LTD. 
MRP "SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
DEVELOPMENT," JANUARY 9-30, 2003 
 
(VI)MR. MUSTHAFA NIHMATH, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, 
COMMUNITY TRUST FUND 
SA/RP "ISLAM IN AMERICA," AUGUST 25-SEPTEMBER 12, 
2003 
 
(VII) MR. SAMYKKANNU DINESH KUMAR, JOURNALIST, 
EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS LTD. 
MRP "PRINT JOURNALISM," JUNE 5-26, 2003 
 
(VIII) MS. SHEVANTHI NIMALKA JAYASURIYA, HEAD, 
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, PEACE SECRETARIAT 
MRP "MULTI-CULTURALISM IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY" 
APRIL 24-MAY 15, 2003 
 
(IX) MS. GEETHANJALI R. RANAWAKA, ASSISTANT 
DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE 
MRP "PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS," 
MARCH 13-APRIL 3, 2003 
 
(X) MR. MARKANDU RAMATHASAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 
EUROVILLE ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTORS (PVT) LTD. 
MRP "ENTREPRENEURSHIP," MAY 29-JUNE 19, 2003 
 
(XI) MR. NISSANKA WEERASEKERA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, 
NEXTVENTURES 
MRP "ELECTRONIC COMMERCE AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY," 
SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 16, 2003 
 
(XII) MS. DAYANI SUMITHRA PANAGODA, SENIOR LECTURER 
IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SIR JOHN KOTELAWALA 
DEFENCE ACADEMY 
MRP "FOREIGN POLICY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES," 
JANUARY 15-FEBRUARY 6, 2003 
 
(XIII) DR. (MS.) NELUKA SILVA, SENIOR LECTURER AND 
HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO 
SA/RP "WOMEN AS LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
SECTORS," JULY 28-AUGUST 15, 2003 
 
(XIV) MR. HEMANTHA KUMARA JAYASUNDERA, DIRECTOR, 
PROJECT MANAGEMENT, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
MRP "URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES," AUGUST 7-28, 2003 
 
(XV) MS. ROSE COORAY, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, FISCAL 
POLICY AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, MINISTRY OF FINANCE 
MRP "PRIVATIZATION AND THE U.S. ECONOMY," JULY 17- 
AUGUST 7, 2003 
 
3.  POST HAS GIVEN A RANK ORDER TO EACH OF ITS 
FIFTEEN POTENTIAL NOMINEES.  WE REALIZE THAT WE MAY 
NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT BUDGET TO SEND ALL FIFTEEN. 
HOWEVER, INCENTIVE FUNDING, CANCELLATIONS AND THE 
POSSIBILITY OF END OF YEAR MONEY MIGHT MEAN THAT, 
E/V/G/N AND E/V/P MAY BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE 
NOMINEES THAN ANTICIPATED.  POST ASKS THAT E/V/P 
RESERVE A SLOT EACH IN SUBJECT MRP'S FOR OUR LOWER- 
RANKED NOMINEES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT IS CLEAR 
WHETHER FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM. 
 
WILLS