US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO2282

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMAL 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS FROM AMBASSADOR WILLS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  12-11-12 
TAGS: AMGT, CE, KWMM, Political Parties 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 172 (12-11-02) 
 
Classified by Amb. Will, Reasons 1.5 (b, d) 
 
CONTENTS:  SMALL ARMS 
-          DTC CASES CONTINUED 
-          IS THE PM PACKIN' HEAT? 
 
SMALL ARMS 
---------- 
1.  (C)  We wanted to get back to you re your incoming 
o/i note dated December 9 on small arms destruction. 
There is some history here.  Per State 11328 dated 
January 18, Mission deployed Department's talking points 
on small arms/light weapons destruction (see Colombo 139 
dated January 22).  DAO has continued to pursue this 
matter directly with the MoD throughout the year and most 
recently did so earlier this week.  At this stage, from 
what we understand, the GSL is still trying to inventory 
the SA/LW equipment it has.  We estimate that it will 
take another two to three months before the inventory is 
complete.  Although it has expressed some interest, we do 
not think the SA/LW destruction program as outlined in 
your December 9 o/i note is a high priority item for the 
GSL.  There are companies that have expressed interest in 
purchasing (repeat purchasing) some of Sri Lanka's 
surplus weapons, for example.  The program we are 
offering does not appear to offer the GSL anything in 
return for the weapons, particularly when compared to the 
possible income that could be derived by selling them. 
Mission will continue to pursue this matter with the GSL, 
but thinks a more effective program would be one that 
permits the USG to purchase usable small arms/light 
weapons from the GSL.  If Mission wants us to remind the 
GSL of our policy position on this program or has new 
points distinct from those in State 11328 we would be 
happy to deliver them per a front-channel.   (POL/DAO) 
 
DTC CASES CONTINUED 
------------------- 
2.  (C) Per the recent exchange of o/i's (dated December 
6 and 9), we have located the case numbers for three DTC 
cases.  We believe two of the cases have been approved. 
We would appreciate it if you would confirm the status of 
these cases with DTC: 
 
-- Case 817436:  This should be the reference number for 
the case of 50,000 rounds of .32 caliber ammunition and 
325,000 rounds of .22 caliber.  This ammunition would be 
used by the Sri Lankan Army's (SLA) shooting team in the 
Olympics and other athletic events.  We believe this is 
the case that is still unresolved. 
 
-- Case 811383:  This should be the reference number for 
the case of USD 15,900 of components for 120mm mortar 
rounds for delivery to the SLA.  This case may have been 
resolved. 
 
-- Case 815294:  This should be the reference number for 
the case of USD 2.6 million in spare parts for the 
AN/TPZ-36 Radar for the SLA.  This case may have been 
resolved. 
 
Finally, per our o/i dated December 9, we are still 
confused as to why some quarters in DRL seem to believe 
there is a prohibition on the sale of lethal weapons to 
Sri Lanka. There ain't one! (POL/DAO) 
 
IS THE PM PACKIN' HEAT? 
----------------------- 
3.  (SBU) FYI.  Recent press articles quote the president 
as accusing the Prime Minister of packing a gun and 
threatening to kill her if she did not cooperate with the 
governing coalition.  Her comments were reportedly made 
in a recent speech to party members in which she also 
purportedly said she was handing over the reins of the 
Sri Lankan Freedom Party to her brother Anura and that 
she might resign in the near future.  When asked about 
the reports, Harim Peiris of the President's office told 
us that he had not seen the text of her speech, but he 
did not think that she was actually saying she had been 
physically threatened by the PM.  He added that she had 
no intention of resigning (her term is up in early 2007). 
 
4.  (C) It sounds plausible that the president attacked 
the PM in this way.  She has previously accused the PM of 
demanding a bribe from her years ago to get her son into 
a local school.  She has also said other nasty things 
about the PM.  All of this has not exactly added to good 
cohabitation relations, as you know.  The latest comments 
do not seem to have ginned up too much of a problem yet, 
however:  the image of the mild-mannered, soft-spoken PM 
packin' heat and carrying on like Joe Pesci seems pretty 
much beyond belief.  (POL) 
 
WILLS