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 05COLOMBO1331, SRI LANKAN POST-TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE

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. #05COLOMBO1331.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05COLOMBO1331 2005-08-01 10:14 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 001331 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EB A/S ANTHONY WAYNE; SA/INS FOR J. BRENNIG, 
N. DEAN; PLEASE PASS TO TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION TASK 
FORCE; TREASURY FOR C. CARNES; MCC FOR D.NASSIRY 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV CE MV
SUBJECT: SRI LANKAN POST-TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE 
(JULY 27, 2005) 
 
1.  (U) This cable provides information for the August 
3, 2005 post-Tsunami IAWG meeting. 
 
Maldives Update 
--------------- 
2.  (SBU) The Government of Maldives (GORM) still has 
not submitted plans for using USG funds.  The Planning 
Ministry gave a July 17 deadline to the line 
ministries for submitting details on projects, but the 
embassy has not received any new information.  Poloff 
spoke with Riluwan Shareef, Executive Director of the 
Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and was told that 
due to the recent reshuffling of cabinet ministries, 
the GORM will not meet self-imposed deadlines. 
 
Sri Lanka Unfazed by Indian Earthquake 
-------------------------------------- 
3.  (SBU) Sri Lanka was unaffected by the June 24 
earthquake that struck India's Andaman and Nicobar 
Islands.  Slight tremors were, however, felt in 
several parts of Sri Lanka, including Colombo. 
 
Housing Update 
--------------- 
4.  (SBU) The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) is now 
focused on constructing permanent housing, the final 
phase of its shelter reconstruction program.  There 
are still lingering problems with transitional housing 
(reftel A), but TAFREN's (Task Force for Rebuilding 
the Nation) permanent housing program is now the focus 
of media attention.  According to TAFREN, pre-Tsunami 
Sri Lanka built between 4,000 and 7,000 houses a year. 
The latest figures published by the Department of 
Census & Statistics put the number of fully damaged 
houses at 41,393 and partially damaged houses at 
36,168 (total of 77,561 housing units).  However, 
there are still thousands of unaccounted people living 
with host families who will eventually also want 
permanent housing.   Construction work has already 
commenced on 5,000 units and 22,794 households outside 
the buffer zone have received the first rebuilding 
installment of Rs. 50,000 ($500). 
 
Housing Ultimatum 
----------------- 
5.  (SBU) Government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva 
informed journalists on June 25 that the GSL is giving 
delinquent donors an ultimatum.  If donors who 
promised to build permanent houses do not begin 
construction before the undetermined deadline, the 
government will cancel the agreements it has signed 
with them.  Mr. De Silva did not name donors, but said 
he would do so if and when the agreements were 
cancelled.  (Note: By "donors" here, it appears de 
Silva means "NGOs."  End Note.)  In the event of 
cancellation, the minister stated that the government 
would reallocate the land and the treasury would give 
funds directly to victims.  In his July 19 address to 
the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Mano 
Tittawella, chairman of the Task Force For Rebuilding 
the Nation (TAFREN), estimated that 70 to 80 percent 
of the tsunami pledges have been converted to 
commitments.  (Comment: The government has been 
complaining about the unreliability of some NGOs for 
the last couple weeks (Reftel A) and it appears ready 
to crack down on unreliable NGOs.  End Comment.) 
 
Hyperinflation Risk in Tsunami-hit Areas 
------------------------------------------- 
6.  (SBU) The GSL is having an increasingly difficult 
time acquiring an adequate supply of raw materials and 
labor for the construction of houses.  The increase in 
demand has caused inflation in many tsunami-affected 
areas, and TAFREN Chairman Mano Tittawella announced 
at the July 19 AMCHAM meeting that this inflation 
could become hyper-inflation if conditions do not 
change. 
 
Tsunami Orphans Find Homes 
 
SIPDIS 
-------------------------- 
7.  (SBU) According to recent local press reports, all 
but 20 of the 1072 tsunami-orphaned children have 
found legal guardians.  Mr. Abeygunawardene, the 
Commissioner of the Department of Probation and Child 
Care, informed journalists that the GSL has given 
these children scholarships to support their education 
and has sent 500 rupees ($5.00) a month to their 
guardians in financial support. 
 
The Recommended Buffer Zone 
---------------------- 
8.  (SBU) The committee appointed by the President 
presented its finalized report on the 100/200 meter 
buffer zone to the cabinet last week.  If the cabinet 
accepts the committee's recommendations, they will be 
sent to the local government agents for consultation 
with residents.  Overall, the committee made four 
recommendations regarding the buffer zone: 
 
--Instead of forcible evacuation of population 
resident in the 100m / 200m buffer zone, they should 
be offered the choice to rebuild and live in their 
original sites. 
 
--In case of people who wish to leave the buffer zone, 
the government should facilitate relocation on 
alternative safer sites outside the buffer zone. 
 
--However, no future development or expansion of 
existing structures should be permitted within the 
buffer zones, and the provisions of the Coast 
Conservation Act should be strictly implemented. 
 
--To ensure safety of the communities that wish to 
remain on their original lands within the buffer zone, 
the committee recommends adopting features like 
berming, green belts and mangroves as envisaged in the 
Tsunami devastated areas of Banda-Aceh in Indonesia. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
9.  (SBU) In a June 25 meeting with Charles Setchell 
of USAID/OFDA, Mr. Setchell discussed with econoff the 
necessary steps the USG should take to influence the 
GSL's buffer zone policy.  Mr Setchell suggested that 
the USG use the Galle district in the South of Sri 
Lanka as the template for the reconstruction effort in 
the rest of the country.  He proposed that the USG put 
together a disaster mitigation proposal that walked 
TAFREN and the Coastal Planning ministry through what 
Galle has done in the Southern coast.  In addition, he 
argued that more local disaster mitigation programs 
such as evacuation plans for all types of emergencies 
needs to be implemented rather than solely preparing 
for another tsunami and depending on international 
warning systems.  Mr. Setchell concluded that a strong 
USG proposal would allow the GSL to distance itself 
from the 100/200-meter buffer zone restrictions that 
are slowing the rebuilding effort. 
 
Value Added Tax Headaches 
------------------------- 
10. (SBU) Since the expiration of the 4-month post- 
tsunami VAT exemption, the government has been taxing 
 
SIPDIS 
tsunami humanitarian relief items.  The government's 
 
SIPDIS 
logic for applying the VAT was to prevent people from 
illegally selling VAT exempt goods in the open market. 
NGOs have already felt the impact of this policy; for 
example, Oxfam paid $1 million in import duty for 
vehicles used in tsunami reconstruction work.  In 
addition, NGOs such as International Medical Corp. and 
others have complained to econoff that the VAT is 
hindering relief efforts and tons of containers worth 
of relief goods are reportedly lying idle at the port 
of Colombo waiting to clear customs and for government 
officials to determine VAT exemption or not.  Items 
held up include clothes, wheelchairs, crutches, 
sleeping bags, blankets and vehicles.  Only a few 
items such as medicines, baby food and building 
materials for temporary housing have been exempted 
from VAT so far.  Despite diplomatic pressure, the GSL 
has refused to budge, much to the frustration of 
numerous NGOs. 
 
Debt Relief 
----------- 
11. (U) Econoff forwarded the newly updated bilateral 
agreement on debt deferral and talking points to Dr. 
Jayatissa, Assistant Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. 
Jayamaha, Deputy Director General, External Resources 
and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha, Deputy Governor of the Central 
Bank for their review.  Econoff has requested that the 
Sri Lanka delegation provide comments as soon as 
possible. 
 
12. (SBU) Comment: Instead of hitting the ground 
running, the permanent housing program has been 
hindered by the ambiguousness of the buffer zone and 
other land issues.  People who have lost houses are 
reluctant to move far from the sea as the buffer zone 
stipulates and most donors are unwilling to provide 
major funding until the GSL resolves the land title 
issues.  Furthermore, the GSL's monthly payment of 
5000 rupees ($50.00) per tsunami-affected family 
arguably has encouraged people to stay in transitional 
camps rather than proceed with reconstruction.  Until 
the GSL sets a coastal policy and communicates it to 
all the stakeholders, confusion will impede a more 
rapid reconstruction.  With regard to the Maldives, 
the Ambassador discussed Tsunami rebuilding issues 
with the GORM, but it appears that the reshuffling of 
the cabinet coupled with fatigue has severely limited 
the ability of the government to respond to USG 
project requests.  However, Riluwan Shareef, Executive 
Director of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury told 
Ambassador that his goal was to see an agreement 
signed by the end of August. 
 
LUNSTEAD