Buddhist monks, locals protest Chabad House in Sri Lanka amid threats, harassment

A Chabad House in the Sri Lankan coastal town of Hiriketiya, which opened just two weeks prior, became the target of violent protests and harassment last Friday. Demonstrators, including local residents and Buddhist monks, called for the center's closure.

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What actually happened, to return to the story from the beginning, is that there are a few antisemitic people, most of the local residents actually love us and welcome us. But there are a few local antisemites who are really bothered by the fact that there is a Chabad House here, with the presence of Jews and Israelis who are here. They claim that Jews here are 'destroying the tourism,' which is of course the opposite.

Rabbi Yossi Gabai reported that while most locals welcome the Chabad House, a small group of antisemites are protesting its presence. These individuals falsely claim that the Jewish community is "destroying the tourism" in the area. The center was established to provide kosher food, Shabbat meals, and community services for Israeli and Jewish travelers.

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They simply decided to go out in a protest that we need to leave from here. They are generating a lot of pressure, and... caused a lot of noise on Friday, during the Friday dinner. They blocked people from coming close to the Chabad House, blocked the workers, threatened people here, threw drones and firecrackers, and made a lot of noise to disturb the Friday dinner here at Chabad.

During Friday evening services, protesters gathered outside, creating significant noise and blocking access for attendees and workers. They reportedly threw fireworks and a large rock that shattered a window. Israeli traveler David Sarosi, who was present, described the demonstration escalating to become "more violent and aggressive" during the Friday night meal. He noted that protesters played loud music and Arabic songs and launched fireworks, causing distress.

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even a few Europeans

Sarosi also recounted an incident where a group of men warned him not to take pictures and threatened him. Police intervened and escorted him inside the facility before the gate was secured. Many inside the Chabad House were military reservists who had recently served in the army and war.

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came with the intention of starting to beat me.