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 09COLOMBO1007, SRI LANKA'S VERY AMBITIOUS PLANS TO EXPAND

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. #09COLOMBO1007.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09COLOMBO1007 2009-11-03 06:40 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXRO6872
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHLM #1007/01 3070640
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030640Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0717
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2006
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 9042
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7280
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3434
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9605
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2556
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0446
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0089
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6899
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0372
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CE ECON ETRD EINV EAIR ELTN
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA'S VERY AMBITIOUS PLANS TO EXPAND 
AIRPORTS TO LURE TOURISTS 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  As part of Sri Lanka's overall plan to 
boost tourist arrivals from nearly 500,000 currently to 2.5 
million by 2016, Sri Lanka has embarked on a very ambitious 
plan to expand its airport facilities.  Sri Lanka's only 
international airport in Colombo, Bandaranaike International 
Airport (BIA), is at the heart of plans to reshape the 
airport landscape.  Sri Lanka plans to expand BIA by 
constructing a new international arrivals and departures 
terminal, widening its current runway to accommodate the 
Airbus A380, and building an additional runway to expand 
international arrivals and departures.  A number of 
additional foreign carriers are interested in establishing a 
presence in Sri Lanka.  Near-term impediments to success do 
exist.  Tenders for airport projects have not yet been 
floated despite a 2013 target date for overall project 
completion.  Another issue is travel within Sri Lanka, which 
was prohibited during the recently ended war against the 
Tamil Tigers.  If tourists could fly within the country it 
would greatly enhance Sri Lanka's attractiveness as a 
destination.  However, although several domestic airlines 
have applied for routes, they do not have planes.  End 
Summary. 
 
PLANS FOR AIRPORT EXPANSION 
 
2. (SBU) Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), situated 
just north of Colombo, is poised to see significant expansion 
over the next 2-4 years.  Current airport capacity is 6 
million passengers per year, although BIA only received 4.8 
million passengers in 2008.  Aviation and Airport Services 
(Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL), the government owned developer and 
operator of airports in Sri Lanka, plans to increase capacity 
over the next several years to 12 million passengers per 
year.  This expansion will include constructing a new 
international arrivals and departures terminal, widening 
BIA's current runway to accommodate the Airbus A380 airliner, 
and building an additional runway to accommodate more 
international arrival and departure traffic.  The AASL 
intends to have all projects completed by early 2013. 
 
3.  (SBU) Despite ambitious plans for airport expansion and 
the delineation of target dates for completion, AASL admits 
its has not yet floated tenders for its new terminal or 
runway expansion/construction.  This apparent disconnect may 
make 2013 an unobtainable target.  BIA and AASL will need to 
identify, possibly with the assistance of the Government of 
Sri Lanka, ways to  attract significantly more travelers to 
meet existing and planned capacity levels.  However, with the 
end of the 26 year war, it seems a reasonable bet that Sri 
Lanka will have many more tourists. 
 
INCREASES IN AIRPORT CARGO BUSINESS 
 
4. (SBU) AASL would like to see BIA become an air cargo hub 
for South Asia.  According to AASL, the airport has seen a 
recent increase in cargo traffic; however, it remains to be 
seen whether the increases will be significant enough to 
position the airport as a cargo hub.  BIA currently handles 
about 150,000 tons of cargo per year.  All major airlines 
traveling to Sri Lanka contribute to this overall total. 
Currently, Sri Lankan Airlines (SLA) has a monopoly on cargo 
handling services, which allows it to set handling rates 
based on its own needs rather than based on competition in 
the market place.  Two secondary cargo handlers operate at 
BIA although they handle only cargo which has been designated 
for their handling by specific customers.  The two private 
operators account for a small percentage of BIA's overall 
cargo business.  With SLA's current monopoly over cargo 
handling services and associated ability to set rates at will 
with relative impunity, it may prove difficult to position 
BIA as a potential air cargo hub given a lack of both 
competition and transparency in pricing.  Additionally, BIA 
and SLA don't seem to have the existing facilities to support 
this plan. 
 
AASL ATTEMPTING TO ATTRACT ADDITIONAL AIR CARRIERS 
 
 
COLOMBO 00001007  002 OF 002 
 
 
5. (U) AASL has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign 
to attract additional foreign carriers to BIA.  A number of 
major international brands including British Airways, China 
Eastern Airlines, Air China Airlines, Garuda Airlines, and 
Al-Etihad Airlines have expressed interest in establishing or 
expanding service to Sri Lanka.  Additionally, budget 
carriers Air Arabia and Air India Express are interested in 
joining Air Asia as a low cost option into and out of Sri 
Lanka.  AASL would like to attract U.S. flagship carriers to 
Sri Lanka and would be interested in a U.S. carrier making 
BIA a regional hub or connection hub.  If AASL is successful 
at wooing some of the interested carriers to the country, 
this would be a major public relations coup and validation of 
the positive economic atmosphere generated with the May 2009 
defeat of the LTTE.  The AASL is optimistic enough about 
adding additional carriers to Sri Lanka that it has begun 
exploring plans to turn its existing airport in Ratmalana, on 
the southern outskirts of Colombo, into a domestic hub. 
 
REFURBISHMENT OF DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE 
 
6. (SBU) With 13 domestic airports scattered throughout the 
country, AASL plans to begin significant refurbishment and 
renovation of each over the next several years.  The domestic 
airport in Pallali, on the Jaffna peninsula, is currently 
AASL's highest priority.  AASL would like to see the Pallali 
airport reopened for regularly scheduled domestic travel in 
the near term.  This plan is in line with Sri Lankan efforts 
to expand options for business and pleasure travelers.  AASL 
hopes to tie refurbishment of domestic airports to the Sri 
Lanka's planned increase in tourism over the next several 
years.  A system of operational domestic airports will ensure 
tourists have a full range of travel options when visiting 
the country and will make intra-country travel faster and 
more convenient.  The AASL admits that while a number of 
private companies have requested permits from the Ministry of 
Aviation and Air Transport, none have existing staff or 
airplanes.  SLA, the most likely near-term player in the 
domestic market also does not have a fleet currently designed 
for short haul intra-island travel.  Sri Lankan aviation 
authorities will need to address the issue of planes and 
flights to accompany its domestic renovation plans. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment:  Plans for airport and airline carrier 
expansion make sense given the Sri Lankan desire to become 
the tourist hub of the region.  Should current airport 
terminal and runway expansion plans come to fruition along 
the timeline envisioned, Sri Lanka will have a first class 
flagship airport capable of handling a major influx of 
travelers to the country.  Likewise, if the AASL can complete 
refurbishment of its domestic network of airports and 
identify domestic carriers in which to shuttle passengers to 
their destinations, this will have a positive effect on the 
business and tourism markets.  Meeting the timeline for 
current plans will be problematic and will force the AASL and 
the government to rethink and possibly scale back its efforts 
in the near term.  However, the planned expansion of the 
aviation sector is emblematic of the GSL plans to expand 
their economy, with a heavy reliance on government planning 
and emphasis on the potential of tourism. 
BUTENIS