President Rajapaksa visited Iran

The revelations published by the Telegraph newspaper in London on Tuesday say the US Embassy in Colombo had expressed its concerns to the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal and the then Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Palitha Kohona.

US representatives had warned, "any arms purchases from Iran would be illegal under a UN resolution 1747 and will have serious negative consequences for US Sri Lanka relations," says Wikileaks.

Rajapaksa visit to Iran

In an official cable from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo dated November 2, 2007, the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) had warned the Governor of the Central Bank and the Foreign Secretary, respectively.

	Iran and SRi Lanka have very close ties

"The Ambassador and DCM reiterated that weapons procurement from Iran would be illegal under UN Security Council Resolution 1747, and would have serious negative consequences for U.S.-Sri Lanka relations".

Sri Lankan authorities have asserted that it does not intend to purchase arms from Iran and the trip by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in November 2007 would be focused on trade and investment.

"Both Governor Cabraal and Secretary Kohona replied that Sri Lanka does not intend to purchase arms from Iran," reveals the leaked cable message.

Oil for Arms

According to the secret cable leaked to The Telegraph by Wikileaks, the Ambassador has told Cabraal that the United States urged Sri Lanka "to be very scrupulous" in entering into additional trade or investments with Iran.

A source that the US embassy describes as 'well-connected and reliable,' had reported to the US authorities, about the government minister responsible for human rights affairs speaking of an oil for arms deal.

Minister for Human Rights

The Embassy source has said that Minister Samarasinghe 'explicitly' noted that the Sri Lankan government hopes the transaction would "send the U.S. a message

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights at that time, Mahinda Samarasinghe was quoted by the source saying, "Sri Lanka would try to negotiate a contract for $200 million worth of oil from Iran at below-market prices, in exchange for which Sri Lanka would order a significant quantity of arms".

The Embassy source has said that Minister Samarasinghe 'explicitly' noted that the Sri Lankan government hopes the transaction would "send the U.S. a message."

The Sri Lankan government declined to comment on earlier Wikileaks cables.

The US embassy in Colombo stressed in January that cables reflected "daily analysis and candid assessments," and should not be seen as representing US policy.