Israel: Sri Lanka’s persistent foreign policy paradox

The NPP Government’s recent decision to grant visa-free travel to citizens of Israel has caused anger and resentment among Sri Lanka’s Muslim community as well as human rights groups. The controversial move comes in the backdrop of even countries like Germany that have historically sided with the Jewish State expressing firm disapproval of the Benjamin Netanyahu-led administration’s actions that have led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the crisis-torn Gaza. 

The blockade has resulted in severe shortages of food and water, causing immense suffering and death among civilians of Palestine. Individuals across the political spectrum have called upon the administration to reverse the seemingly pro-Israel decision. 

Interestingly, the NPP/JVP politicians were staunch critics of Israel before coming into power and their prominent leaders have been passionate advocates of the cause of Palestine going back to decades since the formation of the JVP. Leader of the House cum Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake is the co-chairman of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine.

Denouncing Israel in the strongest terms while in the opposition and then extending friendship after assuming power has been a recurring occurrence in the political spectrum of this land and the practice continues unabated with unsurprising monotony despite the present Government leaders having assured the public that they would be different from the rest. 

When J.R. Jayewardene came into power in 1977, Sirimavo Bandaranaike had ended diplomatic ties with the Middle East nation. However, with the outbreak of the LTTE rebellion, the former President was urged by his National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, who had previously worked as a lecturer at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, to recommence diplomatic relations with Israel. As a result, an Israeli consulate was opened in Colombo in 1984. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the first political party established in Sri Lanka by M.H.M. Ashraff to advance the interest of Muslims, vehemently protested this decision that was made out of necessity and capitalised on the opportunity to enhance their political stature.

At the time Chandrika Kumaratunga’s political coalition took control in 1994, Sri Lanka had again severed relations with Israel. Just like Jayewardene, Kumaratunga too had to re-establish ties with Israel as the armed forces needed strength to counter Tamil rebels with the war escalating into dangerous heights and the terrorists securing victories to the embarrassment of the then Government. Ironically, M.H.M. Ashraff was a powerful Cabinet Minister of the Kumaratunga administration, and the survival of the coalition was determined by his party.

Similarly, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who established his political legacy by championing the cause of Palestine before becoming President, expanded engagement with Israel after assuming Presidency. In a strange turn of events, the diplomatic relations between Israel and Sri Lanka reached unprecedented heights during Rajapaksa’s presidency, and Founder President of the Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine became Sri Lanka’s first Head-of-State to make an official visit to Israel in 2014. 

Meanwhile, beyond demands to revoke the visa-free facility to Israelis, some have even called upon the Government to end diplomatic ties with the Jewish state altogether. While reversing the visa-free facility is reasonable and realistic, requests to terminate relations with Israel appears to be ill-advised on two counts.

Firstly, about 20,000 Sri Lankans are working in the belligerent nation in fields such as agriculture, construction, and care giving. Hence, closing all diplomatic connections would not be appropriate as Israel has come under military strikes by its enemies in the region in the not so distant past.

Secondly, the commander-in-chief of Sri Lanka’s largest export market, who is a huge sympathiser of Israel, penalises states that antagonise him by imposing steep import tariffs (as he has done with India and Brazil). Given the fragile state of the country’s economy, the Government is in no position to overlook financial interests. 

Ending official relations with Israel, although may be correct in principle, is not pragmatic in view of the geopolitical and economic imperatives less-influential countries like Sri Lanka have to navigate.