Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05COLOMBO497, SRI LANKA RELIEF TO RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE (MARCH

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05COLOMBO497.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05COLOMBO497 2005-03-08 11:35 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000497 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR A/S TONY WAYNE FROM AMBASSADOR LUNSTEAD; DEPARTMENT FOR 
SA/INS; PLEASE PASS TO TREASURY C.CARNES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN CE MV
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA RELIEF TO RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE (MARCH 
8, 2005) 
 
REF: COLOMBO 464 
 
This telegram is for use in upcoming briefing for Deputy 
Secretary Zoellick and the Tsunami IAWG 
 
SIPDIS 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified, please handle accordingly. 
 
 
2. (U) Summary:  The GSL has issued new guidance on NGO and 
donor activity in Sri Lanka, particularly with regard to the 
duty free entry of relief and reconstruction supplies into 
the country, but the situation remains confused.  High-level 
interlocutors continue to acknowledge shortcomings, but 
appear unable, or unwilling, to confront the issues head-on. 
While many NGOs appear to have bulging pockets at this point, 
they are under pressure to deliver and are finding the 
process of registering and being allowed to operate 
cumbersome and confusing.  New guidelines on the duty free 
entry of relief and reconstruction items have raised more 
questions than they have answered.  The US Army Corps of 
Engineers continues to assess USAID recommended infastructure 
projects, in the hope that supplemental funds will be 
forthcoming in order to begin implementation.  Maldives, in 
comparison to Sri Lanka, appears better organized in its 
reconstruction effort.  End Summary. 
 
Process 
------- 
 
3.  (SBU) In Sri Lanka, problems continue to plague the GSL's 
efforts to coordinate reconstruction efforts.  The two main 
impediments to progress at this point are a failure to 
adequately coordinate and facilitate NGO operations and the 
lack of clear guidance on procedures such as importing relief 
and reconstruction items into the country.  Further, 
continued debate over the 100/200 meter coastal conservation 
zone (reftel) and confusion over its implementation (how it 
will be enforced; whether exemptions will be granted) has 
caused delays in the rebuilding and repair process.  During a 
March 7 lunch meeting with Finance Secretary PB Jayasundera, 
Ambassador commented on the problems posed by unclear 
guidance and lack of a coordinating mechanism.  Jayasundera 
acknowledged the GSL's shortcomings, offered several examples 
of how operations could be improved, but suggested the 
Ambassador raise the issue with President Kumaratunga. 
Ambassador has requested a meeting with the President to 
discuss relief issues. 
 
NGO Operations 
-------------- 
 
4. (U) NGOs in Sri Lanka continued to be burdened and 
blessed.  Their burdens have stemmed from the GSL's lack of a 
coordinating mechanism and suspension of the NGO registration 
process, as well as continued bureaucratic hassles in getting 
relief and reconstruction supplies cleared into the country. 
Donor governments continue to raise the issue, though they 
are becoming victims of this systemic failure themselves. 
USAID has been unable to get the communications equipment for 
the US Army Corps of Engineers assessment team cleared in 
time for the team to use it during its visits out of Colombo 
(The GSL has imposed special procedures on communication 
equipment due to security concerns). 
 
5. (U)  In an effort to address these issues, the GSL called 
a meeting on March 7 of all NGOs that wish to operate in 
tsunami affected areas.  Far from clarifying and expediting 
 
SIPDIS 
the relief and rehabilitation process, the meeting conveyed a 
sense of "business as usual."  No new fast-track mechanisms 
have been announced, though a new procedure has been put in 
place to register NGOs.  While the Government has issued new 
guidelines on duty-free entry of relief and rehabilitation 
materials, there continue to be significant confusion and 
misunderstanding about what is covered and how it can be used 
(see "Duty-Free Entry of Relief Goods" below).  Many 
organizations, including the UN and large international NGOs, 
continue to experience delays in clearing relief commodities 
at both the international airport and at the port.  Part of 
the problem is clearly the huge amount of supplies that are 
coming in, but a far greater impediment is the lack of clear 
policies and poor communication between Government entities. 
Duty-Free Entry of Relief Goods 
------------------------------- 
6.  (U) The GSL announced over the weekend new guidelines on 
duty-free entry of relief and rehabilitation goods that will 
be in place for goods that arrive prior to April 26, 2005. 
According to the Finance Ministry announcement, items that 
can be imported duty free, assuming they are turned over to 
the relevant Government agency, include new apparel, 
textiles, tents, building materials, school supplies, 
medicines and medical supplies, gully emptiers and water 
tanks, and generators.  Water pumps may be imported duty free 
but do not need to be turned over to the Government.  Items 
that need special permission include communications equipment 
and electrical appliances, consumer durables and computer 
equipment.  The announcement made clear that rice would not 
be allowed to enter the country duty free, in order to 
protect domestic producers. 
 
7.  (SBU) The announcement continued to promote confusion 
because, according to the published guidelines, certain items 
have to be turned over to Government entities for 
distribution.  However, when the Ambassador queried Finance 
Secretary Jayasundera, he indicated that goods do not have to 
 
SIPDIS 
be turned over, but that they should be distributed "with the 
knowledge" of the relevant Government ministry.  Seeking 
further clarification, ECONFSN was told that NGOs should turn 
the items over to the relevant ministry, but if the NGO 
wanted to distribute the goods itself, it could request that 
the goods be returned and that the Ministry approve the 
distribution. 
 
 
Coastal Conservation Zone 
------------------------- 
 
7.  (U) As described more fully reftel, the 100/200 meter 
coastal conservation zone (no-build areas) continues to be 
controversial.  While the Government has issued guidance in 
the form of full-page newspaper advertisements, advising 
individuals and businesses of the new rules, and outlining 
compensation measures, it is still unclear what will happen, 
in particulark, to partially damaged structures, or those 
without permits prior to December 26.  Some land has been 
granted for communities that need to be resettled, but this 
remains a tedious process without a well coordinated, 
transparent structure for oversight. 
 
Signature Infrastructure Projects 
--------------------------------- 
 
8.  (U) The Army Corps of Engineers teams have been traveling 
around tsunami-affected areas, with USAID staff and 
representatives of GSL authorities responsible for the type 
of infrastructure being assessed, to prepare the cost 
estimates for USAID proposed projects, including the repair 
of a bridge at Arugam Bay in the east, the reconstruction of 
14 vocational training centers in coastal areas, and the 
repair and reconstruction of several fishery harbors.  They 
will complete their assessments by March 16 and present their 
cost estimates to USAID.  Without further information on 
potential funding, it will be difficult to provide more 
information on these projects. 
 
Maldives 
-------- 
 
9.  (U) USAID Director and Econchief attended a briefing by 
the ADB and Riluwan Shareef, Executive Director of the GORM's 
Finance Ministry, on March 4.  The briefing was 
well-organized and highlighted the effective work done by the 
GORM in coordinating its relief and rebuilding efforts.  In 
contrast to its larger tsunami-hit cohorts, Maldives has 
quietly, and with far less international fanfare, put 
together a systematic process to identify and prioritize 
needs and apply resources.  Also in contrast to its larger 
cohorts, Maldives sees a much larger funding gap, relative to 
the size of its damage.  While damage assessments for the 
Maldives suggest USD 406 million is required to finance 
reconstruction, donor funding so far totals less than USD 100 
million.  While it is true that the Maldives has much greater 
scope for private sector investment in reconstruction than 
other tsunami-affected countries, the scope of the damage, 
relative to the size of Maldives economy (approximately USD 
850 million per year), is tremendous. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
10.  (SBU) While the tremendous logistical challenge posed by 
hundreds of new NGOs and individuals trying to clear goods 
into the country for relief work is clear, the GSL still 
appears unable to setup an efficient process.  This does not 
seem to be from ill-will, or a desire to obstruct assistance, 
but more the persistence of entrenched bureaucratic habits. 
Perhaps most telling is an anecdote passed on by a 
senior-level Embassy contact outside the GSL, who told us 
that he had been present at a meeting where it had been 
suggested that new guidelines on duty be written in a way 
that would "please the Americans" (Ambassador had written a 
letter to the Finance and Foreign Ministers expressing our 
concern on duties being assessed on relief goods).   While it 
is nice to think we carry so much weight, it is troubling to 
think that our protestations and desire for clarification 
would be the justification for new policies, rather than a 
desire to expedite and better organize the relief effort. 
This week's announcement by the GSL and its subsequent 
misunderstandings and confusion have also served as a 
contrast for Maldives' relief and coordination effort, which 
appears very well organized and effective.  We expect 
Maldives to make a good showing at the Manila conference next 
week. End comment 
LUNSTEAD