Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, met with the Ambassador of Palestine to Sri Lanka, Ihab Khalil last week, even as his government continued to defend its growing ties with Israel.
According to an official statement, Herath expressed “deep concern on the humanitarian situation in Gaza” and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for the right of Palestinians to statehood, in line with the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. The statement further declared that “Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a negotiated settlement in line with internationally agreed parameters of two states living side by side on the basis of the 1967 borders, which is key to achieving long term security, peace and prosperity.”
Herath’s remarks come as Sri Lanka’s Minister Bimal Rathnayake continued to defend his government’s ties with Israel as international condemnation over its ongoing assault on Gaza continues, with Colombo sending hundreds more workers to the country last month.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Israeli government, which saw 6,092 Sri Lankan workers have secured employment in Israel’s construction sector, with 1,018 already departing in 2025. In March 2024, Sri Lanka even opened a new consulate in Haifa, one of Israel’s major trade and industrial hubs, further cementing diplomatic and economic ties. A week later, Sri Lankan and Israeli officials discussed new trade opportunities in the gem, jewellery, cinnamon, and agricultural sectors.
Ambassador Khalil meanwhile welcomed Sri Lanka’s position on Palestine and thanked Herath for Sri Lanka’s donation of 1 million USD to the Gaza Children’s Fund through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The meeting with the Palestinian envoy took place shortly after a series of engagements between Sri Lankan officials and Israel’s new Ambassador, Reuven Javier Azar. Azar presented his credentials to the Sri Lankan president on 15 May, the same day he met with Herath to discuss strengthening diplomatic ties and expanding economic and people-to-people connections, as well as cooperation in other areas.
In the weeks following his appointment, the Israeli Ambassador also met with several senior Sri Lankan representatives, including the Defence Secretary, the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, and the Speaker of Parliament.
Discussions during these meetings focused on advancing cooperation in security, agriculture, tourism, science, medicine, digital technology, trade and investment. Azar also underlined the importance of reviving the Sri Lanka-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association to further deepen bilateral relations.
These developments come as Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza continues to draw global condemnation. Many international organisations and officials have described the assault as a genocide. The Gaza Ministry of Health estimates that 54,607 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, though this figure is widely believed to be a significant underestimate of the true number of casualties.
