Why Are Israelis Flocking to Arugam Bay? The Truth About Anti-Semitism in Sri Lanka

So, this thing about Israelis coming to Sri Lanka, it’s been happening for some time now. But something is off, right? I mean, 80% of Sri Lanka’s coast is full of non-Muslim areas, so why are they gathering mostly around places like Weligama and Arugam Bay, both Muslim-populated? It makes you wonder if there’s some deeper reason behind this. It doesn’t feel random, you know?

Also, these Israelis, many of them have overstayed. It’s like, you come to someone’s house, stay a bit too long without even asking if it’s okay. And with everything going on in Israel, you’d think they would be more careful. Because let’s face it, Sri Lanka stands with Palestine. Israel’s been doing all these things like attacking UN peacekeepers, and guess what? Two Sri Lankans were injured in that. How can we ignore that? They condemn international law, even when the UN tells them otherwise.

There’s this politician, Rehan Jayawickrama from Weligama, he’s been saying it too. Like, what is Sri Lanka doing here? Are we going to let Israelis settle down in these areas? It’s a fair question. And what about the locals? Do they have a voice? Why do Israelis choose Muslim-populated areas to stay near? Are they trying to provoke something? Because if a Muslim speaks up, they’ll probably call it antisemitism, right? But if it’s a Sinhalese, it’s just an issue. That’s kinda unfair.

The illegal activities of certain Israeli business owners have persisted for far too long. Despite numerous appeals to various governments to put an end to this and ensure fair play, these requests have been ignored. Now, we are facing a serious security threat that could derail…

— Rehan Jayawickreme (@RehanJayawick) October 23, 2024

And it’s not like things have been peaceful lately. The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested two people over threats to Israelis. That’s big news. Even Israel’s National Security Council told Israelis to leave places like Arugam Bay and Weligama because of terrorism threats. The US Embassy even issued a travel warning. And it’s not just the US. Other countries like the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia updated their travel advisories too. Arugam Bay is most popular for surfing. But now, the place has heavy security from the police, navy, army, and even intelligence services. That’s how serious this is. What’s gonna happen to the Sri Lanka tourism, if this prevails.

On top of that, you have these Israeli business owners doing illegal activities. I mean, it’s been going on for years. People have been asking the government to take action, but nothing happens. Now we have this big security issue, and it’s messing up our tourism industry. If this keeps going, Sri Lanka could be in a lot more trouble than we think.

Tourists from Israel and Russia are exploiting Sri Lankan tourism by running businesses in Arugam Bay and the Deep South, bypassing local regulations & displacing local ownership.

This is not a new issue and the industry has been trying to get the authorities to take this…

— Chaminda Dias (@chami9539) October 23, 2024

Tourists are already scared. Weligama has roadblocks now, and that’s affecting the vibe. Tourists come here to relax, not to feel unsafe. And look, we’ve been kind to Israelis, welcomed them to our beautiful island. But they can’t just do what they want here, like they do elsewhere. They need to respect Sri Lanka’s laws and land. This isn’t Israel. This is Sri Lanka. We welcome you, wholeheartedly, but only as a tourist.