A delegation of 33 Israeli tourism industry representatives arrived in Sri Lanka this week to participate in a 10-day study tour exploring 'tourism' opportunities across the whole island.
Sri Lankan tour representatives welcomed the delegation at Bandaranaike International Airport. During their stay the delegation is expected to travel across all provinces.
In July Sri Lanka announced a visa fee waiver for 40 countries, which included Israel.
The delegations visit comes as Sri Lanka continues to strengthen bilateral ties with Israel, even as global scrutiny over Israeli military actions intensifies. Sri Lanka has sent hundreds of workers to Israel, including during the height of the bombardment of Gaza, drawing backlash from campaigners who argue that Colombo is enabling a state accused of genocide.
Sri Lanka has long been a popular destination for Israeli tourists, particularly among those who have completed mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, this has also drawn international scrutiny.
Last year, an Israeli soldier facing war crimes allegations reportedly fled to Sri Lanka, prompting further alarm.
Sri Lanka-Israel relations: genocide as military doctrine
Earlier this year, an article published in the Jerusalem Post detailed how Israeli security officials are drawing direct parallels between their campaign in Gaza and Sri Lanka’s brutal assault on the Tamil homeland, which ended with tens of thousands of Tamil civilians killed in just a matter of months.
The article features commentary from Col. (res.) Dr. Moshe Elad, a Middle East security expert and former Israeli officer, who pointed to Sri Lanka as a rare case where a state achieved what he described as the “total military defeat”.
Sri Lankan journalists: whitewash genocide
Earlier this year, a group of 16 Sri Lankan journalists has been flown to Israel on a five-day study programme arranged by the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi. Critics have described as a propaganda exercise to whitewash Tel Aviv’s assault on Gaza.
Despite mounting calls for accountability, both countries have denied wrongdoing and continue to bolster cooperation.
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