Chabad Lubavitch of Sri Lanka
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Chabad-Lubavitch in Sri Lanka: Chabad houses for Israeli tourists in Arugam Bay, Weligama, Ella and Colombo, which became a parliamentary and security issue in 2024–25
| Chabad Lubavitch of Sri Lanka
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Chabad houses for travellers |
| Founded | By 2022 (two centres registered under the Companies Act) |
| Headquarters | Chabad House Arugam Bay, Arugam Bay |
| Area served | Sri Lanka |
| Key people | Roni Ard; Naomi Ard (Arugam Bay) |
| Website | chabadsrilanka.org |
Chabad-Lubavitch in Sri Lanka consists of Chabad houses serving Israeli tourists, especially surfers on the east and south coasts. In June 2025 Sri Lanka's minister for religious affairs told Parliament that there were four Israeli religious centres, at Pottuvil (Arugam Bay), Weligama, Ella and Thimbirigasyaya (Colombo).[1] In July 2025 Foreign Ministry officials told a parliamentary committee that five Chabad houses had been set up, of which two were registered under the Companies Act.[2] The Arugam Bay house's website names Rabbi Roni Ard and Naomi Ard as its emissaries.[3]
Emissaries and centres
- Arugam Bay (Pottuvil): Roni Ard and Naomi Ard. In October 2026 the house's site said its "2026 summer season" had closed.[3]
- Weligama and Ella: registered in 2022 under the Companies Act, according to Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.[1]
- Colombo: Thimbirigasyaya, which the minister said was unregistered. Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman also raised centres at Colombo 07 and Alwis Place, Dehiwala.[1]
Relations with the state, business and Israel
- Security threat, 2024. The Tamil Guardian reported that US and Israeli authorities warned of possible terrorist threats in the Arugam Bay area in 2024.[4]
- Police protection. In June 2025 the Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) reported that police had deployed 24-hour security at Chabad houses. Police had dispersed a silent protest outside a Colombo Chabad house; the protesters alleged that Israeli nationals were overstaying visas and running unauthorised businesses.[5] The minister said Special Task Force protection had been withdrawn from the Colombo 07 site.[1]
- Registration. The minister said that the centres "are being established by registering as restaurants and other commercial properties". He added that inquiries could only be made on receipt of complaints.[1] (Official.)
- Closure order, July 2025. Lanka-e-News reported that the Pottuvil Divisional Development Committee ordered the Arugam Bay Chabad house closed for lack of legal authorisation.[6]
- Tourism. Foreign Ministry officials told the committee that an average Israeli tourist spends about US$150, "which is comparatively high".[2]
Funding
No accounts or named donors were found.
Controversies
- Critical view. The Tamil Guardian framed the centres as part of "the unchecked expansion of Israeli religious and commercial operations, particularly in Muslim-majority areas". It said Arugam Bay received more than 25,000 Israeli tourists in 2024, and cited local claims that many arrive shortly after serving in the Israeli military during the war in Gaza.[4] (Critical.)
- Legal status. Officials described two centres as unregistered and the others as registered companies rather than religious bodies.[1][2] No court case was found.
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Weligama and Ella centres registered under the Companies Act |
| 2024 | US and Israeli threat warnings for the Arugam Bay area |
| 5 Jun 2025 | Minister tells Parliament of four Israeli religious centres, two unregistered |
| Jun 2025 | 24-hour police security at Chabad houses; protest in Colombo dispersed |
| Jul 2025 | Committee told of five Chabad houses; Pottuvil committee orders Arugam Bay house closed |
| 2026 | Arugam Bay site reports a 2026 summer season |
See also
- Hummus Trail
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Sri Lanka
- Chabad Lubavitch of India
- Chabad Lubavitch of Thailand
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Govt confirms presence of four Israeli religious centres in Sri Lanka", Newswire, 5 June 2025. Press (reporting a ministerial statement in Parliament).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Two Chabad Houses registered under Companies Act, Parliament told", Newswire, 18 July 2025. Press.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chabad of Arugam Bay, "Chabad House Arugam Bay Sri Lanka", chabadsrilanka.org, accessed October 2026. Chabad-side.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sri Lanka reveals several Israeli religious sites operating on island", Tamil Guardian, June 2025. Critical.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka Police deploy 24/7 security at Chabad houses", Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), 11 June 2025. Press.
- ↑ "Authorities Move to Shut Down Unauthorized Chabad House in Arugam Bay Amid Security and Regulatory Concerns", Lanka-e-News, 18 July 2025. Press.