WikiLeaks: Why The Tamil Diaspora Is Not Returning To The Country - Butenis Gives A Reason

April 6, 2014

"Following on Assistant Secretary Blake's January 29 meeting with the Sri Lankan charge d'affaires in Washington (reftel), Ambassador Butenis requested and held a meeting on January 31 with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollagama to raise US concerns regarding Government of Sri Lanka (GSL ) harassment of presidential candidate Fonseka, raids and threats against independent media, and an article published on the MOD website by Sri Lankan UN PermRep Kohona falsely allegedly that Secretary Clinton had orchestrated a sanctions campaign against Sri Lanka in the UN Security Council. Bogollagama denied the Kohona article was the GSL position and promised to look into it, largely ignored the press-freedom issue, and offered vague excuses why the GSL treatment of Fonseka was not harassment but promised he would be given due process. 'The Government of Sri Lanka will not harass anyone, "he asserted, noting they did not want a situation" where the whole world again is criticizing us. '"The US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Butenis

The  Colombo Telegraph  Cable Found From the related leaked the  WikiLeaks  Database. On the Cable was written February 01, 2010 by the U.S. Ambassador to Colombo,  Patricia A. Butenis .

Ambassador Butenis wrote; "On the recent report of government harassment of the media after the election, Ambassador pointed out that raids and threats had been escalating against MTV and other independent media outlets and that for a president who had just claimed such a resounding victory, the press should be able to operate freely. The GSL's current treatment of the press, however, made the president look weak and defensive. Such actions sent the signal that people with different views were un-welcome in Sri Lanka - which was a reason why the Tamil diaspora was not returning to the country to assist the re-development effort, as the GSL hoped they would do, and as Bogollagama had earlier complained about. 

Read the cable below for further details;

WikiLeaks: Despite Enormous Resources Why Has Tamil Diaspora Not Yet Invested? Butenis' Cable Gives Reasons

April 6, 2014

"The Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) touts the 'Economic SUCCESS' in Eastern Sri Lanka, where the fighting ended in 2007, As Its blueprint for the Reconstruction of Northern Sri Lanka. Econoff Found that the base in the East of Paddy Rice Economy farming and fishing has bounced back, the GSL has improved the road network, and the number of security checkpoints has been reduced. Two new apparel factories have been established, albeit with heavy subsidies, and there is tourism development potential. However, the GSL has not been effective in overcoming other impediments to economic development. Most strikingly, there is local resentment that large Sinhalese companies from Colombo are receiving the prime tourist plots and government contracts to the exclusion of local entrepreneurs. "The US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Patricia Butenis

The  Colombo Telegraph  Cable Found From the related leaked the  WikiLeaks  Database. On the Cable was written January 07, 2010 by the U.S. Ambassador to Colombo,  Patricia A. Butenis .

She wrote; "The Tamil Diaspora could be an enormous resource for Eastern reconstruction, but the Diaspora has not invested yet. Our contacts gave several possible reasons, including that they were waiting for the political situation to stabilize, they were afraid that investment funds could be seized by the GSL, or they did not feel safe yet. Nevertheless, some Diaspora had visited the East, some were interested, and locals hoped that investments would come in the future. "

We publish below the statement in full;