📈 Concerns Rise Over SL-Israel Diplomatic and Labour Expansion

A group of 100 activists, including academics and clergy, has formally condemned the National People’s Power (NPP) government for expanding ties with Israel. They describe the move as a "moral failure" and a reversal of the administration's prior stance on Palestinian rights. • Labour & Employment Highlights • A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 22 December 2025 by Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra to facilitate recruitment in the service sector (Protocol 'G'). • This follows existing agreements for agriculture, construction, and caregiving jobs, intended to replace Palestinian labour. • Data shows 6,092 workers secured jobs in Israel's construction sector by March 2025, with 1,018 departures recorded early that year. • Tourism & Diplomacy • Activists criticized the visa fee waiver for Israeli tourists, which includes IDF soldiers on vacation. • The government defended these "readily available economic incentives" as part of a strategy to reach 3 Mn visitors and US$ 5.00 Bn in revenue for 2025. • The delegation's refusal to meet Palestinian Authority representatives in the West Bank was cited as a shift from Sri Lanka's historic non-alignment policy. • Economic Context • The shift is driven by the need for foreign exchange and remittances following the 2022-2023 crisis. • While total foreign employment departures saw a marginal decline in 2025, Israel remains a growing niche market for Sri Lankan labour. _Summary based on activists' letter and provisional 2025/2026 economic data._