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Viewing cable 08COLOMBO136, EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING 02/05/2008

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08COLOMBO136 2008-02-05 13:21 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #0136/01 0361321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051321Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7656
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1821
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000136 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, CA AND SA/INS 
NEW DELHI FOR LEGAL ATTACH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER
SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO EAC MEETING 02/05/2008 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) meeting on February 5, 2008. The EAC 
discussed Post's security posture in light of terrorist 
attacks on February 2, 3 and 4 (the weekend prior to, and the 
day of, Sri Lankan Independence Day). The EAC recommended, 
and the Ambassador concurred, to prohibit use of some modes 
of public transportation, to strengthen Post's travel 
notification system and to revise the Travel Warning and 
Consular Information Sheet.  End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On February 5, 2008, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an 
EAC meeting.  Present for the meeting were the Ambassador, 
DCM, RSO, CONS, RAO, MGT, CLO, DHS, USAID, DAO, ECON, POL, 
PAO and MSG DetCmdr. The EAC discussed Post's security 
posture and safety for U.S. citizens in Sri Lanka, in light 
of the following incidents (all times local): 
 
--February 2 
 
0700 hours (7:00 AM): A bomb exploded aboard a bus that was 
stopped in Dambulla (Matale Province), on the route from 
Kandy to Anuradhapura. The explosion of the device, believed 
to have been a parcel bomb planted on the bus, killed 20 
civilians and wounded another 50-plus. Dambulla is 
approximately 90 miles northeast of Colombo, in the Cultural 
Triangle (a well known tourist destination). 
 
--February 3 
 
1000 hours (10:00 AM): A hand grenade, set on a timing 
device, exploded in the Dehiwala Zoo, injuring seven people 
and causing the temporary closure of the zoo. Dehiwala is a 
Colombo suburb, and the zoo attracts American citizens as 
well as Sri Lankans. 
 
1400 hours (2:00 PM): A female suicide bomber detonated a 
device in the Colombo railway station, located in the area 
known as Fort. The explosion, which occurred on Platform 
Three during a busy travel time, killed 14 and injured over 
100 persons. Police conjecture that the bomber may have 
detonated her device to avoid detection and capture by 
security forces in the station. 
 
--February 4 
 
0605 hours (6:05 AM): An explosion of an improvised device in 
Mount Lavinia (Colombo area) destroyed an electrical 
transformer and damaged several residences in the area of the 
explosion. 
 
1410 hours (2:10 PM): A claymore mine attack targeting a Sri 
Lanka Army tractor at kilometer 45 on the Buttala to 
Kataragama road (Uva Province) killed one soldier and injured 
three others. 
 
1430 hours (2:30 PM): A minor explosion in an abandoned field 
in Moratuwa (south of Colombo) caused no injuries or damage. 
Police sources informed the RSO that the device was a hand 
grenade triggered by a timer, similar to the device used in 
the Dehiwala Zoo. Sources speculated that someone abandoned 
the device when security measures prevented him/her from 
reaching the intended target. 
 
1600 hours (4:00 PM): A roadside bomb attack on a civilian 
bus killed 15 people in Ethawatunuwewa, Welioya (North 
Central Province). 
 
3. (SBU) The RSO advised the EAC that in addition to the 
incidents noted above, the Sri Lanka Police Service (SLPS) 
claimed to have diverted another explosion when SLPS 
discovered and defused a parcel bomb containing one kilogram 
of C-4 explosive in the Nugegoda/Kohuwala area (Colombo 
suburbs). The police said they discovered the parcel, which 
had been planted in a telephone booth, on February 4. The 
SLPS also reported the recovery on February 2 of two suicide 
jackets and bomb-making components, including nine kilograms 
of explosives, in Mabole, Wattala (Colombo area). 
 
4. (SBU) The Ambassador commented that this spike in activity 
indicated that the security situation was clearly 
deteriorating. He noted that while the incidents had not 
targeted or injured American citizens or interests, they 
revealed a heightened risk to tourists and other travelers in 
Sri Lanka (RSO note - American citizens are known to use the 
railway, visit the Dehiwala Zoo, and travel to the Cultural 
Triangle). The EAC recommended prohibiting official Americans 
(those under Chief of Mission authority) from using public 
modes of transportation such as trains and buses. The 
Ambassador concurred that such a ban was prudent, given the 
increase in attacks on buses and the main Colombo Railway 
station. 
 
5. (SBU) The EAC also agreed on the following measures: 
 
--Prohibit official American citizens and their eligible 
family members from traveling on trains and buses. Other 
forms of public transportation (air travel and taxis) are not 
included in the ban. 
 
--Issue a warden message reiterating that American citizens 
are strongly advised to not use buses and trains. The warden 
message noted (in accordance with the No Double Standard 
policy) that official Americans' travel by bus and train is 
prohibited until further notice. 
 
--Strengthen Post's Travel Warning and Consular Information 
Sheet to reflect the heightened risk of in-country travel. 
 
--Revise Post's in-country travel notification requirements 
for official Americans. Currently, employees notify RSO when 
traveling within Sri Lanka for personal travel. New 
procedures will require that employees notify RSO and their 
Section/Agency heads. Section/Agency heads will be 
accountable for tracking and locating employees in case of 
emergencies. 
 
--RSO, MGT and CLO will meet with parents to review school 
transportation and security issues. (Note: Government and 
government-supported schools in Colombo are closed, as a 
security precaution, for the rest of this week. The Overseas 
School of Colombo, which most Embassy children attend, and 
other international schools remain open.) 
 
6. (U) Post will continue to monitor the security 
environment, and will report further developments, if any, 
septel.  POC for this message is RSO Michael V. Perkins, who 
may be contacted at 94.11.249.8885, 94.11.249.8888 (MSG Post 
1 after regular business hours), or via the classified and 
unclassified email systems. 
 
SIPDIS 
BLAKE