Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to revoke the visa-free entry granted to Israeli tourists, citing concerns over human rights violations committed by Israel against Palestinians.
In a strongly worded letter, MP Rahman called the inclusion of Israel in Sri Lanka’s visa-free list “shameful” and accused the government of enabling “credibly accused war criminals” to enter the country without scrutiny. He emphasized that such a move contradicts Sri Lanka’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
Rahman criticized the government’s failure to include Palestine in the list of visa-free countries and warned that the decision could tarnish Sri Lanka’s international image. Citing recent incidents, including the Israeli navy’s storming of the aid ship Handala, he described Israel’s actions as genocidal and condemned the lack of condemnation from Sri Lanka.
Highlighting the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes, Rahman warned that opening Sri Lanka’s doors to individuals potentially involved in these crimes could make the country complicit.
He also expressed alarm over the reported detention of Sri Lankans under anti-terror laws for expressing solidarity with Palestine, calling for consistent foreign policy and justice.
The MP concluded by urging the President to reconsider the policy and instead include Palestine among the nations eligible for visa-free travel to Sri Lanka.
