Published On: Wed, Dec 7th, 2011

By eelamaran

“In pursuing this pro-U.S. course, Wickremesinghe has been supported by two dynamic advisers, Minister of Constitutional Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister of Economic Reform Milinda Moragoda.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

GL a Pomme

Mlinda a Yankee

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeak database. The cable classified as “CONFIDENTIAL” analyses the Sri Lanka’s pro – US foreign policy under the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The cable was written on May 29, 2003 by the US Ambassador to Colombo E. Ashley Wills.

Ambassador Wills wrote “In general, the Oxford-educated Peiris’ focus has been more on cultivating ties with former colonial power Britain and other Commonwealth countries, but he is very pro-U.S. and often visits Washington. More than Peiris’, Moragoda’s direct focus has been on cultivating relations with the U.S. and with India. Re the U.S., the intelligent, articulate Moragoda is a perfect fit. Born in Washington, D.C, he is a dual national Amcit (please protect) married to an American, with plenty of Washington connections, many from his days as a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and at Harvard. A “big picture” person, Moragoda is also highly aware that the U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, and he feels that it is better that Sri Lanka recognize that fact and work within it.”

Placing a note the ambassador further wrote “Of late, the duo of Peiris and Moragoda have been joined by a new pro-U.S. player: In just several months on the job, Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe, a U.S.-educated financier and close friend of the PM, has already made a mark in Washington.”

Below we give the relevant part of the confidential cable;

Related news to this cable; WikiLeaks: “Ranil is a Yankee, like his uncle” US cable implies

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000909 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, S/P, IO, INR/NESA; NSC FOR E.MILLARD LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 05-29-13TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR CE UNSUBJECT: Sri Lanka’s foreign policy: Prime Ministertilts toward U.S., but faces resistance Refs: Colombo 873, and previous (U) Classified by Ambassador E. Ashley Wills.Reasons: 1.5 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Since coming to power, PM Wickremesinghehas taken steps to steer Sri Lankan foreign policycloser to the U.S. In doing this, he has had successes,including the signing of an ICC waiver with the U.S. andin regard to Iraq where the GSL steered a constructivecourse. Moreover, one of his key ministers recentlyproposed that the GSL take the lead in forming some sortof counterweight to NAM. That said, the PM’s initiativehas faced stiff resistance from MFA bureaucrats. Inaddition, the president and Opposition, backed by much of the press and the intelligentsia, have cut into hisroom for maneuver via their generally anti-U.S. biases. ¶2. (C) In the post-Iraq war environment, we think theGSL will continue to want to draw closer to the U.S.With the PM facing a precarious cohabitation situation,however, additional steps toward the USG will have to be carefully plotted out. Nonetheless, with Sri Lankafacing a difficult peace process and needing help toconstrain the Tamil Tigers, we think the larger trend inthe country provides ballast for the PM’s pro-U.S.proclivities. END SUMMARY. ——————–PM tilts toward U.S.——————– ¶3. (C) Since coming to power in late 2001, PrimeMinister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken steps to steerSri Lankan foreign policy closer to the U.S.Wickremesinghe’s pro-U.S. views have been long-standingand are in part a function of family connections. Hisuncle, J.R. Jayewardene, for example, was Sri Lanka’spresident from the late 1970s through the late 1980s,and maintained very close links with the U.S.(Note: In fact, Jayewardene was called "Yankee Dickey"by leftists for years.) Moreover, Wickremesinghe, whocomes from a very wealthy business family, is a strongadvocate of free enterprise and strongly opposed to thedisastrous socialist policies of former governments.Wickremesinghe is also surprisingly knowledgeable aboutU.S. history and politics; he is an avid reader aboutthe American Civil War, U.S. military history, and U.S.legislation. The prime minister’s pro-U.S. views alsoemerge out of his political calculus that Sri Lankaneeds the support of the international community,especially the U.S., to constrain the Tamil Tigers.With the peace process his government’s number onepriority bar none, the prime minister has worked hard tosecure U.S. support for his efforts in this area fromvery early on in his tenure. ¶4. (C) In pursuing this pro-U.S. course, Wickremesinghehas been supported by two dynamic advisers, Minister ofConstitutional Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister ofEconomic Reform Milinda Moragoda. (Note: Beyond theirofficial titles, both Peiris and Moragoda play key rolesas peace process negotiators and policy formulators forthe GSL.) In general, the Oxford-educated Peiris’ focus has been more on cultivating ties with former colonialpower Britain and other Commonwealth countries, but heis very pro-U.S. and often visits Washington. More thanPeiris’, Moragoda’s direct focus has been on cultivatingrelations with the U.S. and with India. Re the U.S.,the intelligent, articulate Moragoda is a perfect fit.Born in Washington, D.C, he is a dual national Amcit(please protect) married to an American, with plenty ofWashington connections, many from his days as a visitingfellow at the Heritage Foundation and at Harvard. A"big picture" person, Moragoda is also highly aware thatthe U.S. is the most powerful country in the world, andhe feels that it is better that Sri Lanka recognize thatfact and work within it. ¶5. (C) (((Note: Of late, the duo of Peiris andMoragoda have been joined by a new pro-U.S. player: Injust several months on the job, Ambassador DevindaSubasinghe, a U.S.-educated financier and close friendof the PM, has already made a mark in Washington.))) WILLS