Cablegate: Fy-2005 Srp "Religious Diversity in the U.S."

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

201029Z Sep 04

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001557

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/N-SANA ABED-KOTOB/LARRY MOODY
INFO: SA/PPD-SHARON E. HUDSON-DEAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO OEXC
SUBJECT: FY-2005 SRP "RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN THE U.S."
FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 11, 2005
PROJECT NUMBER: E/VGN-2005-0015

REF: SANA ABED-KOTOB/ANGELA GEMZA MESSAGE OF 9/15

1. POST NOMINATES REV. KIRINDE ASSAJI, BUDDHIST
MONK/PRINCIPAL, SRI SUMANGALA DHAMMA SCHOOL, FOR
PARTICIPATION IN SUBJECT PROJECT.

2. POST CONFIRMS THAT THIS NOMINATION HAS "FULL COUNTRY
TEAM APPROVAL."

3. NOMINATION IS AS FOLLOWS:
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT):
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables
: automated processing in Washington and should not be
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software.
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB
VERSION: 3.0.7
POST-EMAIL: tilakawardenac@state.gov
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Colombo
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 2929
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA
START NOMINATION:
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGN
PROG-AGENCY-NAME:
POST-PROJ-ID: 86
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGN-2004-0018
PROJ-NAME: Religious Diversity in the U.S. - February
21-March 11, 2005
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:

END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: Regional
PROG-TYPE: IV Group Projects
FY: 2005
DEPART-POST: 02/19/2005
SESSION-DATE: 02/21/2005
RETURN-POST: 03/12/2005
NO-OF-PART: 1
RANK-ORDER: 1
START MEMO POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding"
END MEMO POST-OBJ:
START MEMO POST-RCMD:

END MEMO POST-RCMD:
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039
PROG-AGENCY-ID:
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP
PROG-TYPE-ID: 31
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2929
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
STATUS: N
ORIGINATOR: P
SUBJ-DISC: Religion
START BIO:
PREFIX: Dr.
F-NAME: Kirinde
M-NAME:
L-NAME: ASSAJI
SUFFIX: Thero
POSITION-CODE: 350
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: Gangarama Temple
M-ADDR2: 61 Sri Jinarathana Road
M-ADDR3: Hunupitiya
M-CITY: Colombo 2
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
M-ZONE:
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: (94-11) 243-5169
M-FAX: (94-11) 243-9508
M-EMAIL: asaji@log.lk
M-CNTRY-ID: CE
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: M
DOB: 03/20/1968
MAR-STAT: S
BIRTH-CITY: Matara
BIRTH-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
CITIZ-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
RES-CNTRY: Sri Lanka
START MEMO POSITION:
Buddhist Monk/Principal, Sri Sumangala Dhamma School
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
Director, Information and Technology Section of Sri
Jinarathana Vocational Training Centre
Religious Advisor, Sri Jinarathana Bhikku Abhyasa
Vidyalaya Karaka Sabawa
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
May, 2002 - private visit
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:

END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
Final Examination of Oriental Studies Society
(equivalent to the B.A.(Hon.) degree), 1990
M.A., University of Delhi, India, 1995
Ph.D., University of Delhi, India, 1998
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:

END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:

END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:

END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: Sinhala
ENGL-READ: 3
ENGL-SPEAK: 3
ENGL-COMP: 3
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Japanese
OTHER-LANG-ID: JA
READ: 3
SPEAK: 3
COMP: 3
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
This nomination is in support of MPP goals on
"Democracy" and "Mutual Understanding"
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Angela Gemza
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Rev. Assaji is a bit unusual among the Buddhist clergy
because of his regular contact with individuals who are
not Sinhala Buddhists. His temple is conducting IT
training for all sections of the community. Part of
the difficulty of the peace process is a lack of
understanding and communication between the different
ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Through constant contacts
with all sections of society, Rev. Assaji is doing his
part in bridging differences and establishing mutual
understanding between the Sinhala, the Tamil and the
Muslim communities. Post can further promote these
activities which promote social stability by exposing
Rev. Assaji to the concepts behind multiculturalism and
religious diversity in the U.S.
Rev. Assaji, who belongs to the Malwatte chapter of the
Buddhist establishment, is also an important contact
for the Mission. He is a resident of the Gangarama
Temple, which is closely affiliated to a number of
senior politicians of the opposition United National
Party.
Post believes that Rev. Assaji will be an ideal
candidate for participation in SA/RP on "Religious
Diversity in the U.S." since his exposure to the U.S.
and to this project will bring a multiplier effect.

END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: Public Affairs
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: Yes
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 121
PERSON-ID: 125
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CE
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CE
RES-CNTRY-ID: CE
FIRST-LANG-ID: SI
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 2929
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.9999
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT: 5
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:

4. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOMINATION.
LUNSTEAD

© Scoop Media