US embassy cable - 03COLOMBO1046

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/G/N-ALICE SHIFFLETT; INFO: SA/PD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO, OEXC - Exchanges 
SUBJECT: FY-2004 IV SOUTH ASIA RP ON "RELIGIOUS 
DIVERSITY IN THE U.S." - FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 5, 2004: SRI 
LANKAN NOMINATION PROJECT NUMBER: E/VGN-2004-0018 
 
REF: (A) STATE 079533, (B) COLOMBO 0676 
 
1. POST NOMINATES VEN. KIRINDE ASSAJI THERO, BUDDHIST 
MONK/PRINCIPAL, SRI SUMANGALA DHAMMA SCHOOL, FOR 
PARTICIPATION IN SUBJECT PROJECT. 
 
2. NOMINATION IS AS 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: 86 
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGN-2004-0018 
PROJ-NAME: Religious Diversity in the U.S. - February 
16-March 5, 2004 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Sub-Regional 
PROG-TYPE: IV Group Projects 
FY: 2004 
DEPART-POST: 02/14/2004 
SESSION-DATE: 02/16/2004 
RETURN-POST: 03/07/2004 
NO-OF-PART: 1 
RANK-ORDER: 5 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on 
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding" 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: SRP 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 31 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2929 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Religion 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Dr. 
F-NAME: Kirinde 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: ASSAJI 
SUFFIX: Thero 
POSITION-CODE: 0 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: Gangarama Temple 
M-ADDR2: 61 Sri Jinarathana Road 
M-ADDR3: Hunupitiya 
M-CITY: Colombo 2 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: (94-1) 435-169 
M-FAX: (94-1) 439-508 
M-EMAIL: asaji@log.lk 
M-CNTRY-ID: CE 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 03/20/1968 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Matara 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Buddhist Monk/Principal, Sri Sumangala Dhamma School 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Director, Information and Technology Section of Sri 
Jinarathana Vocational Training Centre 
Religious Advisor, Sri Jinarathana Bhikku Abhyasa 
Vidyalaya Karaka Sabawa 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
May, 2002 - private visit 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
Final Examination of Oriental Studies Society 
(equivalent to the B.A.(Hon.) degree), 1990 
M.A., University of Delhi, India, 1995 
Ph.D., University of Delhi, India, 1998 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: Sinhala 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Japanese 
OTHER-LANG-ID: JA 
READ: 3 
SPEAK: 3 
COMP: 3 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on 
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding" 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Joe Novak 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Ven. Assaji Thero is a bit unusual among the Buddhist 
clergy because of his regular contact with individuals 
who are not Sinhala Buddhists.  His temple is 
conducting IT training for all sections of the 
community.  Part of the difficulty of the peace process 
is a lack of understanding  and communication between 
the different ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.  Through 
constant contacts with all sections of society, Ven. 
Assaji Thero is doing his part in bridging differences 
and establishing mutual understanding between the 
Sinhala, the Tamil and the Muslim communities.  Post 
can further promote these activities which promote 
social stability by exposing Ven. Assaji Thero to the 
concepts behind multiculturalism and religious 
diversity in the U.S. 
Ven. Assaji Thero, who belongs to the Malwatte chapter 
of the Buddhist establishment, is also an important 
contact for the Mission.  He is a resident of the 
Gangarama Temple, which is closely affiliated to a 
number of senior politicians of the governing United 
National Party. 
Post believes that Ven Assaji Thero will be an ideal 
candidate for participation in SA/RP on "Religious 
Diversity in the U.S."  since his exposure to the U.S. 
and to this project will bring a multiplier effect. 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: Political 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID: 121 
PERSON-ID: 125 
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: 0 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
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: 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
3. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOMINATION. 
WILLS