Cablegate: Sri Lanka Likely to Support U.S. Candidate For

VZCZCXRO3905
OO RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #1308 2640723
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210723Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6851
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0426
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7413
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5540
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4036
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1391
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8004
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5641
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0623
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2327

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001308

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO, DRL AND SCA/RA
USUN FOR MCBRIDE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNHRC CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA LIKELY TO SUPPORT U.S. CANDIDATE FOR
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE

REF: A. COLOMBO 1253

B. STATE 130973
C. STATE 107687
D. STATE 107692
E. STATE 108642
F. STATE 126155

1. DCM phoned Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on September
20 to follow up on ref b demarche. Kohona indicated that Sri
Lanka would likely support the U.S. candidate, remarking that
this was "an easy decision." He said he would ask the Office
of UN and Multilateral Affairs to answer the demarche
formally.

2. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will likely make the
final decision on Sri Lanka's support. We believe that Sri
Lanka will support Gaer, but a call from the Department could
only help. Post suggests Department or USUN approach
Bogollagama on the margins of UNGA in New York the week of
September 24-28.
BLAKE

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