US embassy cable - 03COLOMBO740

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 COLOMBO 000740 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ECA/PE/V/F/A, ECA/PE/V/G/N-ALICE SHIFFLETT; SA/PD 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, OEXC - Exchanges 
SUBJECT:  FY-2003 VOLUNTARY VISITOR PROGRAM:  SRI LANKAN 
NOMINATION 
 
 
1.  PAS COLOMBO REQUESTS FOR A FUNDED VOLVIS (TWO 
INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING TOGETHER - ITT) PROGRAM ON 
CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS. POST NOMINATES MR. NAUFEL ABDUL- 
RAHMAN, SECRETARY TO THE LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENT, AND 
MR. N.V. KEERTHIRATNE KARUNASENA WERAGODA, SECRETARY TO 
THE CABINET OF MINISTERS, FOR PARTICIPATION IN A 10-DAY 
VOLUNTARY VISITOR PROGRAM ON CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE 
SYSTEM.  PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS PROJECT CAN BE ACCEPTED 
FOR PROGRAMMING. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMMING 
IN LATE MAY (ANYTIME AFTER MAY 18) OR EARLY JUNE, AND 
COULD ARRANGE THEIR TRAVEL ACCORDINGLY. 
 
2.  THE NOMINEES' BIO DATA, JUSTIFICATION AND PROGRAM 
SUGGESTIONS IN EVDB FORMAT FOLLOWS: 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
:  The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
:  automated processing in Washington and should not be 
:  edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE:  POST-EVDB 
VERSION:  3.0.5 
POST-EMAIL:  rscmb@pd.state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST:  PAS  Colombo 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID:  2929 
EXPORT-TYPE:  BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE:  E/VGN 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID:  80 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME:  Single Country - Voluntary Visitors - 
Congressional Committee System 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE:  Single Country Project 
PROG-TYPE:  IV Grant Visitor 
FY:  2003 
DEPART-POST:  06/16/2003 
SESSION-DATE: 
RETURN-POST:  06/29/2003 
NO-OF-PART:  2 
RANK-ORDER:  0 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goal "Democracy" 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
Post requests a 10-day volvis program for two high- 
level governemnt officials visiting the U.S. for 
observation and consultation on the U.S. Congressional 
committee system.  Since the Sri Lankan government is 
considering strengthening the Parliamentary committee 
post believes that the the nominees should be provided 
with the opportunities to observe how congressional 
committees are set-up and work in both federal and 
state levels. 
 
The nominees could begin the program in Washington 
visiting U.S Congress Committee Offices and later visit 
Committee Offices in a State Legislature (possibly 
Albany, NY).  If approved, the two nominees will be 
available for programming for ten days from May 19 to 
mid or late June. 
 
This request is for a 10-day funded (Per diem and 
internal tavel) volvis grants for two nominees. 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID:  1039 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID:  SCP 
PROG-TYPE-ID:  29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID:  2929 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS:  N 
ORIGINATOR:  P 
SUBJ-DISC:  Federalism/U.S. Government 
START BIO: 
PREFIX:  Mr. 
F-NAME:  N.V.Keerthiratne 
M-NAME:  Karunasena 
L-NAME:  WERAGODA 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE:  114 
PRINCIPAL?:  Yes 
M-ADDR1:  Office of the Cabinet of Ministers 
M-ADDR2:  Republic Square 
M-ADDR3:  Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha 
M-CITY:  Colombo 1 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE:  (94-1) 329-620 
M-FAX:  (94-1) 323-730 
M-EMAIL:  keewera@sltnet.lk 
M-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
M-ADDRTYPE:  B 
GENDER:  M 
DOB:  11/20/1937 
MAR-STAT:  M 
BIRTH-CITY:  Induruwa 
BIRTH-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
CITIZ-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
RES-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers, December 2001- 
 
SIPDIS 
to date 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1998-2001 - Chairman and Director in several companies 
in the private sector 
1997- Secretary, Ministry of Provincial Councils and 
Local Government 
1995-96 - Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Commerce and 
Food 
1994 - Secretary, Ministry of Finance 
1992-93 - Secretary, Education, Higher Education and 
Cultural Affairs 
1988-91 - Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic 
Resources 
1982-87 - Secretary, Ministry of Agricultural 
Development and Research 
1978-79 - Government Agent, Matara 
1974-77 - Government Agent, Hambantota 
1971-73 - Additional Government Agent, Matara 
1969-70 - Deputy General Manager, River Valleys 
Development Board 
1965-68 - Assistant Government Agent 
1960-64 - Divisional Revenue Officer 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
1981 - As Mason Fellow of the Kennedy School of 
Government, Harvard University 
1982-97 - Several visits to World Bank and IMF to 
negotiate projects while serving as Secretary in the 
different ministries 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
Germany, India, Malaysia and the Philippines - On 
several occasions for official conferences 
Paris, France - On several occasions to UNESCO as head 
of official delegation 
London, U.K. - 1980-81- For studies at Cambridge 
University; and the Commonwealth Secretariat on several 
occasions as head of official delegation 
Rome, Italy - Several visits to attend meetings in FAO 
and World Food Program 
Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island - 1982 - as 
chairman of consultative group on Agriculture 
Japan - 1975 (six months) - Scholarship offered by 
JAICA 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
B.A. University of Ceylon , 1959 
Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies, Cambridge 
University, U.K., 1981 
M.A. in Public Administration, Harvard University, 1982 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Member, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of 
Science 
Member, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society 
Member, Economic Society of Sri Lanka 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
'The Progress of Rural Agriculture since Independence' 
in  Business Today, December 1998 
'Internal Trade in Sri Lanka,' chapter on Internal 
Trade contributed to the National Atlas, 1997 
'Importance of English to the Youths to Meet the Modern 
Day Challenges'  - 1993 
'Agricultural Research Systems and Management,' in Sri 
Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy 
publication - 1987 
'Agricultural Plans and Policy for Nutritional Adequacy 
in Sri Lanka' - paper prepared for FAO, 1986 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG:  Sinhala 
ENGL-READ:  4 
ENGL-SPEAK:  4 
ENGL-COMP:  4 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goal on 
"Democracy" 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
Post requests a 10-day volvis program for two high- 
level government officials visiting the U.S. for 
observation and consultation on the U.S. Congressional 
committee system.  Since the Sri Lankan government is 
considering strengthening the Parliamentary committee 
post believes that the nominees should be provided with 
the opportunities to observe how congressional 
committees are set-up and work in both federal and 
state levels. 
 
The nominees could begin the program in Washington 
visiting U.S Congress Committee Offices and later visit 
Committee Offices in a State Legislature (possibly 
Albany, NY).  If approved, the two nominees will be 
available for programming for ten days from May 19 to 
mid or late June. 
 
This request is for a 10-day funded (Per diem and 
internal tavel) volvis grants for two nominees. 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
Visitors objectives are to fully understand the working 
of committee system in the U.S. Congrass and State 
Legislatures. 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Bruce A. Lohof 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
 
Mr. Weragoda is a senior officer of the Sri Lanka 
Administrative Service, who has held important 
positions previously. He is now the Secretary to the 
Office of the Cabinet of Ministers, one of the most 
important offices in the government. 
The present government is desirous in introducing an 
effective committee system in the House of Parliament. 
Mr. Weragoda, along with Mr.Rahman who is the Secretary 
to the Leader of the House of Parliament, have been 
entrusted with the task of observing similar 
institutions and make recommendation for strengthening 
and improving the functions of Parliamentary 
committees.  Since U.S. Congressional committees are 
considered in high esteem Mr. Weragoda who has a wealth 
of experience in governmental affairs would be an ideal 
candidate for a voluntary visitor program on the 
congressional committee system. 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF:  Public Affairs Section 
SPEAKER?:  Yes 
NOTIFY-EMB:  Yes 
MEDIA?:  No 
HOME-STAY:  No 
HOME-HOSP?:  Yes 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID:  114 
PERSON-ID:  116 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
RES-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
FIRST-LANG-ID:  SI 
E-I-TYPE-ID: 
NOM-POST-ID:  2929 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
NOM-STATUS:  N 
DS2019-ACTION:  1 
DS2019-SUBJECT:  45.1001 
SPONS-FUNDS:  0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1:  0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2:  0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1:  0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2:  0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT:  0 
COMMISSION:  0 
OTHER-AMOUNT:  0 
VIS-AMOUNT:  0 
VIS-CAT:  5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX:  Mr. 
F-NAME:  Naufel 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME:  ABDUL-RAHMAN 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE:  114 
PRINCIPAL?:  Yes 
M-ADDR1:  Office of the Leader of the House of 
M-ADDR2:  Parliament 
M-ADDR3:  Sri Jayewardenepura 
M-CITY:  Kotte 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE:  (94-1) 777-463 
M-FAX:  (94-1) 777-464 
M-EMAIL:  lhpsec@slt.lk 
M-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
M-ADDRTYPE:  B 
GENDER:  M 
DOB:  06/04/1944 
MAR-STAT:  M 
BIRTH-CITY:  Colombo 
BIRTH-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
CITIZ-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
RES-CNTRY:  Sri Lanka 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Secretary to the Leader of the House of Parliament, 
 
SIPDIS 
2002- to date 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1994-2001 - Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition 
in Parliament 
1992-94 - Director/Legal Consultant, Associated 
Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 
1992-93 - Chairman, Petroleum Compensation Tribunal 
1984-94 - Reverted to the Bar and practised in the 
Civil Section 
1982-85 - Commissioner, Presidential Tariff Commission 
1978-84 - Chairman and Chief Executive, Industrial 
Development Board 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
1993 - International Visitor 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
Switzerland, Geneva - 1989 - Sri Lanka Delegate to the 
General Conference of ILO 
Australia - 1985 - Member, Sri Lanka Delegatation to 
study the workings of the Australian Tariff Board 
France, Paris - 1983 - Sri Lanka Delegate to the 
General Conference of UNESCO 
Austria, Vienna - 1981 - Sri Lanka Delegate to the 
General Conference of UNIDO 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Bachelor of Laws, University of Ceylon 
Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 
Diploma in Business Administration, University of 
Colombo 
Fellow of the British Institute of Management, England 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Member, Bar Association of Sri Lanka 
Member, British Institute of Management 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
'Is Small Beautiful,' in 'Karmantha' April 1980 
'Industrial Growth - Vertical or Lateral,' in 
'Karmantha' December 1980 
 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG:  Tamil 
ENGL-READ:  4 
ENGL-SPEAK:  4 
ENGL-COMP:  4 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG:  Sinhala 
OTHER-LANG-ID:  SI 
READ:  4 
SPEAK:  4 
COMP:  4 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
This project is in support of MPP goal on "Democracy" 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
Post requests a 10-day volvis program for two high- 
level governemnt officials visiting the U.S. for 
observation and consultation on the U.S. Congressional 
committee system.  Since the Sri Lankan government is 
considering strengthening the Parliamentary committee 
post believes that the the nominees should be provided 
with the opportunities to observe how congressional 
committees are set-up and work in both federal and 
state levels. 
 
The nominees could begin the program in Washington 
visiting U.S Congress Committee Offices and later visit 
Committee Offices in a State Legislature (possibly 
Albany, NY).  If approved, the two nominees will be 
available for programming for ten days from May 19 to 
mid or late June. 
 
This request is for a 10-day funded (Per diem and 
internal tavel) volvis grants for two nominees. 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
Visitors objectives are to fully understand the working 
of committee system in the U.S. Congrass and State 
Legislatures. 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Bruce A. Lohof 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
 
Although Mr. Abdul-Rahman is an Attorney-at-law, he has 
been in politics closely associated with the ruling 
United National Party (UNP) and the Parliament for a 
long time.  During the time the present Prime Minister 
was the Leader of the Opposition he was the Secretary 
to him (the Leader of the Opposition).  When the UNP 
came into power in 2001 Mr. Rahman was appointed  the 
Secretary to the Leader of the House. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
The present government is desirous in introducing an 
effective committee system in the House of Parliament. 
Mr. Rahman has been entrusted with the task of 
observing similar institutions and make recommendation 
for strengthening and improving the functions of 
Parliamentary committees.  Since U.S. Congressional 
committees are considered in high esteem, Mr. Rahman 
who has long experience in parliamentary affairs would 
be an ideal candiate for a voluntary visitor program on 
a familiarization of the congressional committee 
system. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF:  Public Affairs Section 
SPEAKER?:  Yes 
NOTIFY-EMB:  Yes 
MEDIA?:  No 
HOME-STAY:  No 
HOME-HOSP?:  Yes 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID:  115 
PERSON-ID:  118 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
RES-CNTRY-ID:  CE 
FIRST-LANG-ID:  TC 
E-I-TYPE-ID: 
NOM-POST-ID:  2929 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
NOM-STATUS:  N 
DS2019-ACTION:  1 
DS2019-SUBJECT:  45.1001 
SPONS-FUNDS:  0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1:  0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2:  0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1:  0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2:  0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT:  0 
COMMISSION:  0 
OTHER-AMOUNT:  0 
VIS-AMOUNT:  0 
VIS-CAT:  5 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
3.  PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE NOMINATIONS AND 
SUITABLE PROGRAM DATES ARE AVAILABLE. 
 
WILLS