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 08COLOMBO753, SRI LANKA: GSL WEAKENS CORRUPTION OVERSIGHT BY APPOINTING

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. #08COLOMBO753.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08COLOMBO753 2008-08-13 08:55 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXRO9363
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0753/01 2260855
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130855Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8523
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2213
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1040
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8034
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6208
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2385
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 8641
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1551
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000753 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS AND DRL/IL FOR TU DANG 
STATE AND GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER 
MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY AND E BURKE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINV KCOR PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: GSL WEAKENS CORRUPTION OVERSIGHT BY APPOINTING 
MINISTERS TO HEAD PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES 
 
REF:  A) Colombo 730 
B) 07 Colombo 1464 
C) 07 Colombo 1232 
D) 07 Colombo 779 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  In a move that is likely to encourage further 
government corruption, chairmanships of Sri Lanka's parliamentary 
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Committee on Public 
Enterprises (COPE) were recently awarded to government ministers. 
These committees have been traditionally chaired by opposition 
parliamentarians to ensure accountability of government financial 
matters.  The appointments mark a further retreat in efforts to 
reduce corruption.  Paragraph 9 contains recommendations for the US 
executive directors on the boards of the World Bank and IBRD to help 
reduce corruption in Sri Lanka.  End Summary. 
 
----------------------------- 
Government "Watching" Itself 
----------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) On July 23, the Government used its Parliamentary majority 
to elect two cabinet ministers to head parliament's most important 
oversight committees, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and 
the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC).  Power and Energy Minister 
W.D.J. Seneviratne was appointed to head the COPE and Media Minister 
A.P. Yapa to head the PAC.  These two committees were reconstituted 
in June 2008 after the President pro-rogued Parliamentin May 2008, 
which led to the automatic dissolution of all Parliamentary 
committees.  With the government's majority in parliament, it was 
possible - and easy -- to install pro-government chairmen. 
 
3.  (SBU) These appointments, however, have been severely 
criticized.  The primary function of COPE and PAC is to exercise 
supervision of public funds used by government ministries and public 
enterprises.  It is customary for opposition or independent 
parliamentarians to chair the committees to ensure accountability in 
government financial matters.  Indeed, the previous COPE was led by 
Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa (no relation to the President), 
who was named man of the year by a leading business magazine for his 
efforts to expose corruption.  Under his leadership, COPE  presented 
two damning reports that detailed corruption throughout the 
government.  Unfortunately, the government - although embarrassed -- 
took little action.  Frustrated with government inaction, the 
opposition did not even propose a candidate to chair COPE, and 
opposition members serving in PAC walked out before the vote for its 
chairman. 
 
4.  (SBU) The appointment of Seneviratne as COPE Chairman is a 
conflict of interest.  In its last report to Parliament in 2007, the 
former COPE cited the Ceylon Electricity Board as one of the 
institutions with most number of allegations of financial 
irregularity.  Seneviratne oversees the Ceylon Electricity Board 
(CEB) as Minister of Power.  Any investigation into corruption and 
mismanagement of funds at CEB is therefore unlikely; as a result, 
public confidence in COPE will further diminish. 
 
5.  (SBU) Likewise, Yapa's appointment to head PAC reflects a 
conflict of interest.  In a meeting on August 12 with Ambassador, 
Wijedasa Rajapaksa criticized Yapa's appointment, noting that many 
of the most corrupt state institutions are under his Ministry, 
including the Independent Television Network, the Rupavahini 
Corporation and Lakehouse, both of which oversee significant 
television and print media empires. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
NGOs and Opposition Criticize Appointments 
------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) The Sri Lanka branch of Transparency International (TISL), 
which advocated against the appointment of ministers, issued a 
statement condemning the election of ministers to chair the 
committees.  TISL stated that it was an "intentional undemocratic 
move to weaken legislative scrutiny so that the irregular financial 
expenditure by the Executive would continue unabated."  TISL urged 
parliament to re-consider the decision and has called upon the two 
 
COLOMBO 00000753  002 OF 002 
 
 
Ministers to step down.  To date neither has. 
 
7.  (U) General Secretary of the main opposition United National 
Party (UNP), Tissa Attanayake, told news papers that the intention 
of the government was to cripple the investigations of the two 
committees.  The UNP is threatening to boycott these committees. 
 
--------------------------- 
Former Watchdog Pessimistic 
--------------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) Ambassador asked former COPE Committee Chair Rajapaksa for 
his views on the way forward in combating corruption in Sri Lanka 
now that the COPE and PAC have been defanged.  Rajapaksa gloomily 
assessed that Parliament and its oversight committees "can't do 
anything" because of the control exercised by the ruling party and 
its allies.  He predicted the SLFP will continue to block not only 
new inquiries into corruption, but also action to prosecute those 
named in previous COPE and PAC reports.  For example, he noted with 
regret that the Government had blocked his efforts to create a COPE 
website to publicize its activities and reports and printed just one 
copy of the COPE report to prevent any circulation.  Rajapaksa said 
the problem is compounded by the weakness of the opposition, which 
has largely failed to pressure the Government to do more on 
corruption. 
 
----------------------- 
What Should the USG Do? 
----------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU):  Embassy will continue to work with Transparency 
International and other local groups to speak out about the 
importance of the Government addressing corruption.  We will also 
continue to ensure that no AID or other USG money goes directly to 
the Government where it might be diverted or misused.  Beyond that, 
we recommend that Washington agencies and the US executive directors 
on the boards of the World Bank and IBRD: 
 
- Pressure the IBRD and ADB to engage the Government on corruption 
and ensure there are very strict auditing guidelines to ensure Bank 
money is not mis-spent. 
 
- Urge that the Government allow passage of the Right to Information 
Law, modeled on India's successful legislation, to give citizens the 
right to petition the central and local governments for details of 
how money is being spent. 
 
- Urge that the Government replace the Chairmen of the COPE and PAC 
committees with independent Members of Parliament so that COPE and 
PAC can be empowered to perform their mandated roles. 
 
BLAKE