US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1522

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001522 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PTER, KAWC, PHUM, PREF, PINR, CE, Human Rights, External Relations 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN 
DETAINEES FROM GUANTANAMO:  SRI LANKA 
 
REF: STATE 158272 
 
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires, a.i. James F. Entwistle for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1. (C)  Charge' raised reftel situation of Uighur 
Guantanamo detainees with Foreign Ministry 
Secretary H.G.M.S. Palihakkara August 31 and asked 
 
SIPDIS 
for Sri Lankan assistance.  Palihakkara replied 
that "we'd like to do it," but that accepting the 
Uighurs would "create problems with our Chinese 
friends" and lead to pressure from Beijing "that 
we probably couldn't withstand."  The Secretary 
underlined that improving relations with Beijing 
is a high Sri Lankan foreign policy priority, as 
illustrated by the fact that President Kumaratunga 
is in China this week with a large commercial 
delegation. 
 
2. (C)  Comment/Assessment:  Sri Lanka is indeed 
doing all it can to improve ties with Beijing at 
present.  A number of local commentators focused 
on the fact that President Kumaratunga went 
forward with her long-scheduled trip to Beijing 
despite the unsettled domestic situation here in 
the wake of the announcement of Presidential 
elections and the August 12 assassination of the 
Foreign Minister.  Beyond the desire for improved 
political and commercial ties with China, Sri 
Lanka is faced with a large internally displaced 
population of its own, both from the years of war 
and last December's tsunami.  While Sri Lanka 
usually tries to be helpful on issues of 
importance to Washington, we unfortunately see 
nothing to be gained by raising the Uighur issue 
here again. 
ENTWISTLE