During the government of J.R. Jayewardene, his son Ravi Jayewardene visited Israel and met with the Israeli Prime Minister, requesting arms and training to confront the war in the North. Ravi’s main request was to secure the necessary training for the newly established Special Task Force (STF). After the STF, trained in Israel, became involved in the Northern conflict, the Indo-Lanka Agreement was signed, and the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) was brought in to address the situation in the North. Meanwhile, as the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) launched an insurrection against the Indo-Lanka Agreement, troops from the North were brought to Colombo for suppression, including the STF. The STF played a major role in quelling the JVP uprising, and the JVP insurgents were especially fearful of the STF. Trained in Israel, the STF conducted the suppression of the JVP ruthlessly. Although Ravi Jayewardene opposed the deployment of the STF against the JVP insurgency in the South, J.R. initiated it, and later, President Premadasa continued this approach. In 1994, when Chandrika Kumaratunga became President, a Presidential Commission was established to investigate human rights violations by the STF during the suppression of the JVP.
Israel, which trained the STF which displeased the JVP, was one of the first challenges the JVP had to face after the JVP came to power because of bomb threats against Israelis.
Sri Lanka’s dealings with Israel started during the era of D.S. Senanayake. The Bible mentions that King Solomon sent merchant ships to Galle. During British colonial rule, there were Jewish nationals who represented the British government in ruling Sri Lanka, including a Chief Justice. D.S. maintained relations with Israel by purchasing warships, sustaining connections established under British colonial administration. The Bandaranaike family was pro-Palestine and opposed Israel. When J.R. came to power in 1977, he sought support from Israel for the Northern conflict and established an Israel Interests Section to gain assistance. The Jayewardene family maintained close ties with Israel. J.R.’s Defense Minister, Lalith Athulathmudali, had studied and lectured at an Israeli university, and J.R. introduced Gamini Dissanayake to Israeli representatives to acquire technical knowledge for the Mahaweli project. Israel advised Gamini on settling Sinhalese people in the Northern and Eastern regions.
In 1988, President Premadasa appointed a Presidential Commission to study information in the book By Way of Deception, written by a former Mossad officer. Based on this commission’s report, the Israeli interest section was expelled from Sri Lanka, with Premadasa stating that the impeachment motion against him by Lalith and Gamini was part of a Mossad conspiracy. He remarked, “You know that immediately after the sending back of the IPKF, I had the Israeli Interests Section removed. In such a context, there is nothing to be surprised about Mossad rising up against me. Please remember that there are among us traitors who have gone to Israeli universities and lectured there and earned dirty money. Don’t forget that for a moment.”
Chandrika, who had opposed Israel from the outset, re-established diplomatic relations with Israel upon coming to power in 1994. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Chairman of the Sri Lanka-Palestine Friendship Association, obtained Israel’s support for the war. Ranil, who became President in 2022, strengthened relations with Israel. The JVP has held an anti-Israel stance from its inception, yet now, the JVP sees a need for Israel due to the large number of overseas jobs Israel provides for Sri Lankans. Thus, the JVP cannot currently afford to alienate Israel.
