INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Sri Lanka to Consider Adopting Convention for The

Published: Tue 31 Jul 2007 10:23 AM
VZCZCXRO6750
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #1058 2121023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311023Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6538
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0325
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7308
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1241
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7900
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2226
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0355
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5549
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2239
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0007
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0592
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001058
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, ISN, L, AND S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KNNP MCAP PINR PINS PARM PREL CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA TO CONSIDER ADOPTING CONVENTION FOR THE
SUPPRESSION OF ACTS OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM
REF: STATE 102149
(SBU) On July 26, Acting DCM and Econ Chief met with MFA
Additional Secretary for UN and Multilateral Affairs Sarala
Fernando to urge the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) to sign
the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear
Terrorism. Fernando questioned whether the convention was
relevant to Sri Lanka, which does not have any nuclear
facilities. A/DCM explained that the convention covers the
illicit trade in nuclear materials, which could be diverted
for terrorist purposes, and argued that since Colombo is a
significant transshipment port, Sri Lanka should adhere to
the Convention. He pointed out that this would further
require national legislation to implement these obligations.
Fernando noted that Sri Lanka already participates in the
U.S.-sponsored Container Security Initiative (CSI) and
Megaports program. She emphasized that combating terrorism
is a top priority for Sri Lanka, and undertook to study in
depth the full text of the convention. Post will report any
further developments septel.
MOORE
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