US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1991

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2015 
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, IR, EU, AORC, IAEA, External Relations 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA WILL TRY TO BE HELPFUL AT IAEA BOARD 
MEETING 
 
REF: STATE 212969 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d). 
 
 1.  (C) Ambassador spoke to Foreign Secretary Palihakkara 
November 23 regarding upcoming IAEA Board meeting, explaining 
our decision not to seek referral of Iran to the UNSC at this 
time and also our desire that this not be seen as an 
endorsement of Iran's behavior.  Palihakkara said that he 
understood the situation and that Sri Lanka "feels Iran 
should responsibly respond" to the international community. 
He promised to "put your views into the pipeline." 
 
2.  (C) COMMENT:  As we have noted before, Sri Lanka is 
unlikely to take a harsh line against Iran, given its 
dependence on Iran for a large part of its crude oil 
supplies.  We are still hopeful that Sri Lanka will be able 
to make a statement which is helpful.  The decision-making 
structure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in great flux 
right now.  A new Foreign Minister was sworn in today, but 
will not be in the job for a day or two.  Palihakkara is 
technically out of a job, since all Secretaries of Government 
lose their positions when the Cabinet is dissolved. 
Nonetheless, he is sitting in his office and taking calls. 
If he is reappointed as Secretary (he said he was not sure, 
but that no one had yet asked him to leave), he will be sworn 
in again in a day or two. 
LUNSTEAD