Cablegate: Fy-2004 Iv South Asia Rp On "Religious

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

160736Z Jun 03

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001046

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/G/N-ALICE SHIFFLETT; INFO: SA/PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO OEXC
SUBJECT: FY-2004 IV SOUTH ASIA RP ON "RELIGIOUS
DIVERSITY IN THE U.S." - FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 5, 2004: SRI
LANKAN NOMINATION PROJECT NUMBER: E/VGN-2004-0018

REF: (A) STATE 079533, (B) COLOMBO 0676

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

2. 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: 3.0.5
POST-EMAIL: rscmb@pd.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
16-March 5, 2004
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:

END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: Sub-Regional
PROG-TYPE: IV Group Projects
FY: 2004
DEPART-POST: 02/14/2004
SESSION-DATE: 02/16/2004
RETURN-POST: 03/07/2004
NO-OF-PART: 1
RANK-ORDER: 5
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: SRP
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: 0
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: (94-1) 435-169
M-FAX: (94-1) 439-508
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: Joe Novak
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Ven. Assaji Thero 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, Ven.
Assaji Thero 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 Ven. Assaji Thero to the
concepts behind multiculturalism and religious
diversity in the U.S.
Ven. Assaji Thero, 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 governing United
National Party.
Post believes that Ven Assaji Thero 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: Political
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: 0
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
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:
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:

3. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOMINATION.
WILLS

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