Prime Minister Harini Amarasooriya informed Parliament today that no permission has been granted to Israeli tourists to establish “religious centers” (synagogues) in Sri Lanka. She stated that neither the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs nor any affiliated department has authorized the creation of such centers, reinforcing the government’s stance on maintaining regulatory oversight.
“These centers have not been given permission. We will intervene in this matter very soon,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
“However, based on intelligence information concerning the Arugam Bay incident, we had to provide security to the visitors. It is our country’s responsibility to protect tourists, but we will not allow the establishment of illegal centers.”
The Prime Minister further clarified that discussions are underway to alert the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the situation, aiming to halt any unauthorized religious or business activities by foreign nationals. She also disclosed that 25,514 Israelis entered Sri Lanka in 2024, highlighting the need to closely monitor potential violations of tourist visa regulations.
Addressing a related issue, Prime Minister Amarasooriya reminded Parliament that no laws in Sri Lanka permit foreigners to arrive on a tourist visa and engage in business. She noted that while no official visas have been issued to Israelis for such purposes, evidence suggests certain individuals are operating outside the framework of local regulations.
“There is no law in Sri Lanka that allows foreigners to come on tourist visas and engage in business activities,” she explained.
“Although this problem is not unique to our country, we have identified it as a concern and are committed to taking measures to end such practices.”
The Prime Minister’s statements were made in response to a query from Opposition Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, who raised concerns about an increase in Israeli tourist activity—particularly regarding the alleged formation of unauthorized religious centers. The government is now reviewing the matter to ensure all visitors adhere to Sri Lanka’s legal requirements and respect local regulations.
