The Chabad House in Hiriketiya, in southern Sri Lanka, which recently opened to serve Israeli and Jewish tourists in the area, has in recent days faced a series of serious acts of harassment and threats from some village residents. On Friday, a protest was held against the Chabad House, led by Buddhist monks. The protesters called on the authorities to examine the legality of the site’s activity and even close it if it is found to be operating without the required permits.
The Chabad House operates a kosher restaurant at the site, holds Shabbat meals and serves as a warm and safe home for Israeli travelers arriving in southern Sri Lanka. Despite this, local officials claim that unwanted religious and business activity is taking place there, and have begun acting against it.
Protesters in front of the Chabad House in southern Sri Lanka
Friday evening, during the Shabbat dinner, a noisy protest was held near the Chabad House. Chabad officials said that the protesters played loud music, threw firecrackers into the courtyard and threw stones at the site during the night.
The harassment did not end there, according to Chabad. Israelis on their way to the Shabbat meal were stopped by protesters, told not to approach the Chabad House and ordered to turn back. Firecrackers were set off near some of the guests in an effort to frighten them and prevent them from reaching the site.
The Chabad House in Hiriketiya also said there was further escalation after Shabbat ended, when several Israelis who left the Chabad House were threatened with sticks. Only after local police returned to the site and increased supervision did the situation calm temporarily.
The Chabad House warned that this is a real threat to its emissaries, their families and the Israeli tourists who come to the site. Without immediate intervention, they said, there is concern that the incidents will escalate. “The Chabad House was opened to serve Israeli tourists in Hiriketiya, allow them to eat kosher food and provide them with a warm and safe place far from home,” an official there said. “Now we need urgent help so we can continue operating safely.”
Chabad House officials called on the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli Embassy and the authorities in Sri Lanka to intervene urgently, work to post permanent security around the site, increase the police presence and investigate the violence and threats. “We must not wait until a disaster occurs. Immediate action is needed to protect the Israelis and the Chabad House and ensure that every traveler can reach the site safely,” officials at the Chabad House in southern Sri Lanka said.
Representative of Chabad talks to protesters outside the building
At the same time, media outlets in Sri Lanka published sharp criticism of the conduct of some Israeli tourists in the country. Among other things, it was claimed that their aggressive behavior and sense of “entitlement” to the waves and beaches are deterring tourists from other countries. It was also claimed that Israeli-run businesses are operating without the required licenses, employing Israelis without proper visas, building structures in violation of regulations governing coastal areas and preventing local residents from entering businesses. Sri Lankan media outlets also reported that “many of these soldiers are mentally damaged after participating in war crimes as part of the IDF.”
A group of Buddhist monks and residents who took part in the protest called on authorities to examine whether the Chabad House was established and is operating in accordance with all required legal and regulatory approvals and requirements. The protesters also called on the authorities to take appropriate steps, including evacuating the site, if it is found to have been established or operated without the necessary permits.