Shenali D Waduge

The recent arrest and bail of former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has renewed attention on allegations of a foreign employment network funneling Sri Lankan citizens to Israel under questionable circumstances. At the center of the controversy is Saman Priyantha, a private employment agent reportedly offering job placements in Israel. Multiple complaints filed with the Urugasmanna Junction Police allege that Priyantha collected substantial sums from prospective workers, delivering few legitimate job placements. Allegations of a shadowy employment network needs to be investigated.

What distinguishes this case is the reported connection between Priyantha and Israeli Consul General in Sri Lanka, Dinesh Rodrigo. Publicly available photos and video material suggest that Israeli embassy officials visited Priyantha’s office, potentially giving an impression of official endorsement. These interactions were reportedly facilitated by Consul General Rodrigo, creating questions about the extent of diplomatic involvement in private employment matters.

·       Why would Israeli officials visit a private employment agency when all legal foreign employment programs operate through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)?

·       Could such interactions indicate misuse of diplomatic privilege, whether intentionally or inadvertently?

·       Are there systematic checks to ensure private agents are not exploiting Sri Lankan citizens under the guise of foreign employment?

The Dehiwala Religious center controversy

Further intensifying public concern is the alleged establishment of a private religious site in Dehiwala associated with the Israeli Consul General. 

Residents have reportedly expressed alarm at:

·       A building approved as commercial property being converted into a religious center without following Sri Lanka’s religious site approval process.

·       The presence of heavy security from the Army and Navy positioned in high rise bunkers, raising questions about national security priorities.

·       Claims that the center attracts Sri Lankans converting to Judaism for citizenship purposes, rather than being used by a recognized Jewish congregation.

·       Reports suggesting that Consul General Rodrigo functions as the head religious officiant, a role outside diplomatic norms under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963).

These circumstances raise urgent questions for authorities:

·       Can a foreign diplomat legally operate a religious institution in a host country?

·       Who authorized state security deployment for a private building?

·       Was this site used to indirectly facilitate foreign employment placements or conversions?

A careful investigation is required to determine the legality of the building, its use, and the appropriateness of the security detail.

Video evidence for public review:

(allegations only, verification required)

Israeli Tourism and Sri Lanka: Context Matters

Sri Lanka has a long-standing tourism and diplomatic relationship with Israel, which must not be conflated with the alleged misconduct of individuals. Israeli nationals are a growing segment of Sri Lanka’s tourism market, contributing to local economies in coastal and inland destinations.

Year	Israeli Tourists	Source
2022	~9,000	SLTDA
2023	~10,000	SLTDA
2024	25,514	SLTDA Report Dec 2024
Jan–Aug 2024 (Arugam Bay)	20,515	Regional tourism survey

Despite occasional media reports alleging a takeover,” evidence shows Israeli tourists coexisted peacefully with local communities, particularly in Muslim-majority Arugam Bay, participating in commerce, cultural exchange, and tourism development without conflict.

Israel’s Role in Sri Lanka’s Conflict Against LTTE

Sri Lanka’s historic cooperation with Israel provides crucial context. During the 1980s–2000s, Israel supported Sri Lanka in combating the LTTE separatist movement, including:

·       Providing Dvora and Super Dvora patrol boats for naval operations against LTTE Sea Tigers [1].

·       Delivering training to the Special Task Force (STF) and other security units [2].

·       Remaining a consistent defense partner when many international actors were ambivalent or critical [3].

These facts underscore that Sri Lanka’s bilateral ties with Israel are rooted in security cooperation and tourism, not the alleged misconduct of private individuals.

 

Allegations of a Coordinated Employment Network

Reports suggest a potential nexus of influence involving:

1.    Manusha Nanayakkara – as former Minister of Foreign Employment, reportedly facilitating increased funding routed through Israel.

2.    Saman Priyantha – private employment agent allegedly collecting fees from workers for placement promises.

3.    Dinesh Rodrigo – Israeli Consul General, alleged to have provided diplomatic access and security coverage for private activities.

Key questions for investigation:

·       How did Priyantha obtain apparent diplomatic legitimacy?

·       Was state security deployed to protect private enterprise without legal justification?

·       Are there direct links between religious conversion, visa facilitation, and employment placement?

·       Did former minister Nanayakkara approve funding flows that were misappropriated to private intermediaries?

The Dehiwala–Arugam Bay Connection

The tensions in Arugam Bay appear closely linked to the illegal religious site in Dehiwala, which triggered a media-driven narrative of foreign overreach. Evidence suggests that the peaceful coexistence between Israeli tourists and local communities was disrupted primarily by heightened coverage of the Dehiwala site and associated security presence.

·       Israeli tourists had previously engaged in legitimate commerce and tourism without incident.

·       Escalation followed only after media reports and social media campaigns highlighted the Dehiwala building and heavy security deployment.

·       Allegations of an Israeli takeover” of Arugam Bay appear exaggerated, politically motivated, and not supported by verified evidence.

The root cause of the public concern traces back to the Dehiwala religious site, which served as a focal point for speculation and national-level commentary. 

This sequence demonstrates how local disputes over a single building were amplified into a broader narrative of foreign interference, overshadowing years of coexistence and legitimate tourism activity and even scaring Israeli tourists.

Unanswered Questions

1.    How did a private employment agent gain access to Israeli officials?

2.    Were diplomatic privileges misused to advance personal financial gain?

3.    Why was significant state security allocated to a private religious facility?

4.    What steps are being taken to protect citizens from fraudulent foreign employment schemes?

5.    Will the Sri Lankan and Israeli governments coordinate to investigate and prevent potential abuse of diplomatic and legal frameworks?

The situation underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and vigilance:

·       National security must not be compromised by private interests.

·       Foreign employment should operate strictly under SLBFE regulations.

·       Religious institutions must comply with legal and local government approval processes.

·       Bilateral relations with Israel must be preserved based on historical cooperation, tourism, and security partnerships, separate from individual misconduct.

Sri Lankan authorities and independent oversight bodies should investigate allegations fully, ensuring that no citizen is defrauded, no security protocols are misused, and diplomatic privileges are not exploited.

An issue that Muslims in Arugam Bay did not have with Israeli tourists was blown out of proportion by one single incident of an illegal religious site in Dehiwela which Muslim politicians stirred against the Govt for political mileage. Therefore, the root cause and the key player(s) must be held accountable for not only did it impact an image of a nation, it raised fear among tourists and also impacted national income as well as income of the Muslims in Arugam Bay.

Shenali D Waduge

Disclaimer: The above article is based on publicly reported allegations, complaints, and media material. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report raises questions in the public interest and calls for independent verification and formal investigation.  

Legal Note

All allegations are presented as reported, alleged, or requiring verification.

The goal is public awareness, accountability, and investigation.

References

1.    Israel’s role in Sri Lanka’s LTTE operations – The Diplomat

2.    Training assistance to STF – Open Source Reports

3.    Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority 2024 Reports

4.    Urugasmanna Junction Police Complaint Reports, 2024

5.    Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985

6.    Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963)

7.    YouTube Allegation Video