By Ameer Ali –

Dr. Ameer Ali

“The media does play a vital role in our democracy, and if we cannot depend on journalistic ethics, the nation’s in trouble”  ~David Brat 

A team of sixteen journalists including two from the state run Rupavahini had gone on a five day “study tour” organized by the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi to Israel. When questioned about any role of Sri Lankan government in this rendezvous the media minister Nalinda Jayatissa responded that “they are on a private tour, there is no government involvement … The government will not bear any responsibility, anyone can go to Israel, there is no ban on visiting. We can’t obstruct this”. That may be true, but will the government also disclaim responsibility to the consequences of what these journalists would be expressing after being brainwashed by Israeli authorities? Some of them may even be in the payroll of Mossad.

Sometime in the middle of 1980s, when the late Bernard Lewis, a prominent Jewish Middle East Historian, delivering his keynote address at a conference in New York organized by the Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs and at which this columnist was present, made a very pertinent observation about the difference between how Arab and Israeli governments build their respective relationships with foreign countries. While Arab leaders build theirs by pleasing the foreign leaders in power, Israel relies in influencing the public opinion in those countries. How accurate Lewis’ observation was, is best illustrated by the Emir of Qatar’s recent gift or rather bribe to US President Dolald Trump of a luxury Jet aircraft hoping that Trump would exert pressure on Netanyahu to agree for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Israel’s invitation to the sixteen Sri Lankan journalists for a so-called study tour to Israel during which those journalists would no doubt be brainwashed. Not only the Emir’s expectation was dashed by Trump but more than that when Israel bombed Qatar a few days ago he casually remarked that he “felt bad” about it. Whereas Israel’s rendezvous with Sri Lankan journalists is bound to influence the opinion of at least some sections of the local community that may turn pro-Israel. Already, racist publications like Sinhala Ravaya are advising the Sinhalese to learn from Israel how to convert Sri Lanka into a Sinhala Buddhist only country. Thus, while Arabs adopt top-down approach to build foreign relations Israel in contrast goes for bottom-up approach. The success of its approach is clear when one reads, listens and watches how the media in Global North constantly demonize Palestinian resistance against Israeli genocide in Gaza while sanitizing the extreme horror and brutality unleashed against Palestinians by Israel’s IDF.

It is also puzzling why this tour was organized from New Delhi and not by the Israel’s consulate in Colombo? It appears that New Delhi has emerged as Israel’s South Asian Head Quarter to take care of Israeli interests in the region. It is no secret that Modi’s Hindutva government’s brutal measures to colonialize Kashmir runs parallel with Zionist colonization actions in Palestine. India is in total complicity with Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza. For instance, when in 2025 the UN Human Rights Council introduced a resolution urging immediate ceasefire in Gaza and arms embargo on Israel India abstained. India again abstained from voting in last week’s UN resolution to recognize Palestine as an independent state. More than that there is an ongoing arms trade between Israel and India. Ranjan Solomon, an advocate for justice and independence for Palestine, informs in an article to Palestine Chronicle that in 2023 Israel’s arms sales to India totalled $135 million and in 2024 it fell slightly to $128 million. At the same time India also exported to Israel defence equipment worth $123 million to Israel in FY 2023-24 and that amount increased by another $28 million in just eight months of FY 2024-25. The point to note here is that with a strong foothold in Delhi, Israel’s efforts to deepen its influence in Sri Lanka may become problematic for the country’s current centre-left government, which is striving to make the country economically independent with closer links with prospering economies of Global South headed by China.  The US-India-Israel trio via CIA-RAW-Mossad could work to jeopardise this ambition.

Given this international context recent expressions of public discontent from Sri Lankan citizens about Jewish Chabad houses, kosher food outlets, unethical behaviour of Israeli tourists in conservative Muslim areas like Arugam Bay and unlicensed businesses operated by Israelis with expired visas had raised some concern in Israeli government circles. It is to counter that discontent and create favourable public opinion that the sixteen-member team of journalists had been invited for a study tour. They would no doubt be brain washed.

This rendezvous has also taken place at a critical moment in Sri Lankan politics. The JVP/NPP government was elected with an overwhelming mandate on Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s promise to “change the political culture of the country” via a “social revolution” and reform the system of governance to make it “free of corruption and nepotism” and above all to “restore the independence of judiciary”. In addition, AKD also promised to stabilize the economy and revive economic growth with the ultimate objective of freeing the country from economic dependence. This last objective is at least technically impossible with his commitment to operate with the open economy model.

On the economic front stability has been achieved faster than expected, but with the IMF policy framework. Having promised to renegotiate the terms and conditions with IMF pragmatism dictated to let things be as they were which indeed proved to be a wise decision. However, it is the government’s vigorous move regarding the delivery of other promises that has created a stir in the opposition camp. Corruption cannot be eradicated unless the corrupt are brought before the law, and that task should begin by cleaning the top deck of the corrupt heap. The recent arrest of former president Ranil Wickremesinghe on charges of misusing public funds and the court drama which followed his arrest had sent jittery waves within the opposition camp.  The latest legislation passed in parliament with a resounding vote in favour to withdraw the costly perks and extraordinary privileges enjoyed by former presidents, and to evict them from their official mansions which had become a colossal drain on national treasury had enraged leaders like Mahinda Rajapaksa who like a wounded elephant is bent on seeking revenge. He is accusing the government and AKD of personal vendetta. Nothing could be further from the truth. For the first time in the seventy-five years history of democracy in this country law and justice are being allowed to function independently and without political interference. Isn’t that one of the pillars of parliamentary democracy? Yet, the opposition is preparing for a showdown with the government.

As the Tamil saying oor irandupattaal kooththadikkuk kondaattam (a divided village or town is merriment for the joker) goes, the evolving confrontation between the government and opposition is a fertile ground for outsiders to meddle with the country’s politics to enhance their own interests. Israel, India and US through their respective intelligence units could play a sinister role in accentuating the growing conflict, and the media rendezvous in Israel should be considered as a part of this cynical ploy. It is an attempt to change local public opinion in Israel’s favour. When the government is moving along a new trajectory to make Sri Lanka a dependable and resourceful member of Global South Israeli manoeuvres deserve utmost scrutiny. This is why Minister Jayatissa’s lackadaisical remark about the media delegation demonstrates an element of diplomatic immaturity. 20,000 jobs in Israel and a few million blood-soaked tourist dollars from Israeli tourists are no compensation for communal disharmony, economic setback and threat to the country’s sovereignty promoted through mercenary journalism.