INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Residential Security Cluster Housing

Published: Fri 29 Aug 2003 09:59 AM
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001513
SIPDIS
FOR DS/IP/FPO AND OBO/PE/SM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD AMGT ASEC
SUBJECT: RESIDENTIAL SECURITY CLUSTER HOUSING
REF: STATE 245380
1. (SBU) Embassy Colombo has one residential cluster housing
compound for American employees of the IBB (VOA) remote
broadcasting site.
2. (SBU) The compound is located in the town of Negombo,
about halfway between the IBB site in Iranawila and Colombo.
Negombo is 1.5 hours north of Colombo, the IBB site is
another hour north of Negombo. The compound consists of five
leased houses within a walled compound situated in a rural
area about one-quarter mile off the main Negombo Road.
Although the compound is increasingly surrounded by various
grades of village huts and simple block houses, the area is
best described as isolated. Currently, three of the houses
are occupied by IBB employees, with a fourth used as TDY
quarters. The fifth house is empty. All houses are alarmed,
locked and grilled. Also included in the compound is a
swimming pool, tennis court, children's playground and guard
booth. Three Local Guards are posted at the compound 24
hours. Vehicle access is controlled by a heavy steel gate on
rollers and a separate drop-bar. The perimeter wall is
substandard cinderblock varying in height 7-9 feet. Two CCTV
cameras overlooking the compound became inoperable three
months ago.
3. (SBU) Because the Negombo housing compound is in a remote
location and isolated from any nearby embassy support,
enhanced physical security upgrades are vital to the security
of the occupants, which includes spouses and children. RSO
has surveyed the property and determined that the north
perimeter wall should be enhanced with an anti-climb barrier
such as razor wire. Post estimates it has sufficient
resources to complete this project in-house. RSO has also
determined a complete external camera upgrade is needed at
the compound. Four remote cameras are needed at each corner
of the compound, a fifth camera is needed for the internal
vehicle gate, and a sixth camera is needed for the road
outside compound entrance.
4. (SBU) OBO assistance is requested to fund this
recommended CCTV upgrade. Funding estimates are as follows:
(6) Camera Surveillance Systems at 1,500 each - $9,000
(2) Outdoor Dome Wall Mounts at 350 each - $700
(4) Pressurized Dome Wall Mounts at 1,400 each - $5,600
(1) Video Multiplexer at 800 each - $800
(6) 4.5 mm Camera Lens at 150 each - $900
(1) CCTV Switcher at 850 each - $850
(4) Color Monitors at 330 each - $1320
(1) System Controller w/ joystick at 700 each - $700
(1) Video Input Board at 250 each - $250
Installation, Shipping and Labor - $10,000
5. (SBU) Post requests a total of $30,120 to complete the
residential security enhancements described above. POC for
this request is RSO Alex Moore (94)(1) 244-8601.
ENTWISTLE
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